Prime minister Andy Burnham had been invited by councillors to Ilfracombe to see “what poverty looks like in a rural area”.
Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil (Lib Dem, Kingsbridge) told a cabinet meeting last Friday (August 14) he had written to the PM asking him to come to Devon but specifically North Devon.
Councillors expressed their disappointment that Mr Burnham had not been in touch with them yet despite his visit to Devon and Cornwall over last weekend.
Cllr Stuart Rogers (Con, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh) said a lot of rural communities were concerned how they would be sustainable when local government reorganisation comes into play in 2028 and wanted answers from the prime minister.
The government is looking to make rural Devon into one of four unitary authorities for the county once the county and district councils are abolished but there are fears that without an economic centre like Exeter or Plymouth as part of it, it will struggle.
Cllr Brazil said: “I have written to the prime minister today to ask him to visit Devon as part of his cost of living tour, in particular North Devon. We have said ‘why not come to Ilfracombe if you want to see what poverty can look like in a rural area’.”
One in four children live in poverty in the town and parts of it have one of the lowest life expectancies in the country.
North Devon Council and groups like the Ilfracombe Poverty Truth Commission and One Ilfracombe are trying to change that.
Inadequate housing including a large amount of HMOs (houses of multiple occupation) are believed to be a factor.
Cllr Brazil said: “There are fantastic parts of Ilfracombe but there is also that hidden deprivation. What with the maternity hospital closing (temporarily) and the education gap that we have, he (the PM) doesn't need any more examples of how some of our rural communities really struggle so we are trying to get him down here. Let’s watch this space.
Cllr Sara Wilson (Green), who represents Ilfracombe on Devon County Council
Andy Burnham Invited to Ilfracombe to See Rural Poverty