TORRIDGE District Council is adding its weight to a campaign for a fairer government funding deal in rural areas.

It follows calls to challenge the current central government formula, which sees urban councils receive around 50% more funding per person than rural councils. That is despite rural communities generally paying more in council tax and having access to fewer public services than people in large towns and cities.

A Rural Fair Share Campaign has now been launched, with cross-party support from MPs on the Environment Select Committee. It is encouraging people to sign a petition in support of a fairer deal.

Cllr Philip Collins said: 'For decades we have been under funded in comparison to affluent areas. It is well beyond time that this should be equalised. It costs more to deliver services in rural areas, and schools and organisations lose out.

'The Rural Fair Share Campaign is calling for the funding gap between rural and urban areas to be narrowed, particularly for the 50% difference per head to be reduced to less than 40% by 2020.'

Torridge residents can can sign the petition at the Torridge District Council stand at the Holsworthy Show on August 22. Copies of the petition are also available at all Torridge District Council's reception points.