PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release

Friday 26 May 2017

The Rural Services Network [1] has welcomed calls for the next government to ensure its policies deliver a fair deal for the countryside.

It comes as the charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) [2] highlighted the need for future government policy to be fully 'rural proofed'.

ACRE says measures are needed to address the question of how European investment will be replaced or replicated after the UK leaves the EU.

RSN chief executive Graham Biggs MBE said: “Rural communities will be among those most affected by the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

“European funding has been crucial in helping many of our rural communities overcome the challenges they face – including rural isolation.

“Central government has historically and systematically underfunded our rural areas – despite the fact that it costs more to provide rural services.”

“It is clear that the next government must deliver a fair deal for rural communities and the service providers they rely on.”

Editors notes:

[1] The Rural Services Network seeks to provide a voice for rural communities by representing rural services, networking between rural service organisations and establishing and broadcasting best practice in rural service provision.

It comprises SPARSE Rural, the Rural Assembly, the wider Rural Services Partnership and the RSN Community Group. The organisation works with Rural England, a stand-alone CIC research group.

For details, visit www.rsnonline.org.uk.

[2] Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) published its ‘Election Asks’ on Thursday (25 May). The document calls for a suite of rural, social and economic measures to be introduced post-Brexit and highlights the need for future Government Policy to be fully rural proofed.

Media contact:

Graham Biggs
Rural Services Network
T: 01588 674 922
M: 07966 790197
E: [email protected]

ENDS