Despite the presence of towns such as Bridlington, Withernsea and Hornsea, the coastal zone is mainly rural in nature with a relatively sparse population. Nearly 6% of the workforce in Southern Holderness for instance is in the agricultural and fishing sectors, compared with 1.3% in the whole of the UK. While many residents find the rural nature an attractive element of the area, with its unspoilt village character, it does provide problems too. While many of the issues faced by those living in rural communities on the coast are the same as those found elsewhere, it should be stressed that coastal communities often face heightened problems. This is mainly due to the geography of the coast where settlements have only 180-degree hinterlands. These are mainly centred around isolation and poor access to services (ICZM, 2002).

This section addresses:

• Agriculture - Information on agricultural initiatives.
• Rural Development Issues - England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) and Rural Action Plans.
• Rural Issues - Information from Yorkshire Forward.
• Rural Services - Information on rural businesses, plans and other initiatives
• Rural Transport - Rural transport issues, local and national initiatives.

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