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Future of Rural Areas
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Thursday, 22 March 2018 The Rural Services Network [1] has responded to a House of Lords report which recommends that government responsibility for rural issues should be transferred away from DEFRA [2]. ...
The Rural Services Network has welcomed a House of Lords report which says the government is failing rural communities. The "Countryside at a Crossroads" report was published by a House of Lords select committee which has been...
The government is failing England's rural communities, says a House of Lords select committee. Responsibility for rural issues should be transferred away from Defra and given to another government department, says the committee. The recommendation was...
TWO prominent politicians will discuss the future of rural policy at a special University of Gloucestershire workshop. Shadow Defra minister David Drew and MEP Julie Girling are among those attending the event which will look at the future of...
Innovative community projects to tackle litter louts have been awarded government funding. Councils, charities, businesses, and public projects were granted almost £125,000 to take tackle littering in their communities. The funding builds on the government’s wider...
The Bishop of Lincoln has highlighted the challenges faced by communities in sparsely populated rural areas. Christopher Lowson, who has been Bishop of Lincoln for six years, delivered his maiden speech in the House of Lords on...
Seemingly minor changes to the national planning policy framework could have big rural benefits, says an expert. They mean farmers could play an increasingly important role in the provision of rural housing. "There are two small...
Unlocking rural digital potential could add up to £26bn annually to the UK economy, says a new report. Research by Rural England and Scotland’s Rural College shows that greater use of digital tools and services could deliver...
Rural communities are to be given more options to convert agricultural buildings into family homes. The change in planning rules to better meet local housing needs was announced on Monday (12 March). Housing minister Dominic Raab...
A new electric vehicle charging social enterprise has started up in Cumbria to address the chronic shortage of charging points in rural towns and villages. Charge my Street is aiming to get a chargepoint within five minutes’...
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Amid reduced public spending, fair resource allocation across regions is crucial. Despite a population larger than Greater London, rural areas receive significantly less funding for essential services, even though delivering these services in rural areas is more expensive.
Economic growth is widely acknowledged as essential for national wealth and prosperity and is a priority for political parties. Rural economies, employing millions and home to a higher proportion of small businesses, have potential for growth if barriers are removed.
Rural residents face distinct healthcare challenges, including limited access to transport, longer distances to medical facilities, an aging demographic, housing inadequacies, digital connectivity gaps, and difficulties recruiting health and care workers.
Rural communities are grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, marked by high house prices, a lack of affordable housing, elevated living costs, and lower incomes, threatening their sustainability and vitality.
Transport is vital for the quality of life and economic health of rural areas, yet it faces challenges such as infrequent public bus services and less Government funding compared to urban regions.
Rural areas, encompassing a substantial portion of England's population and land, play a pivotal role in combating climate change and achieving the net zero target.
In an increasingly digital world, the lack of robust digital infrastructure in rural areas severely limits access to crucial services and stifles economic growth.
A future-focused vision for rural communities involves not just building the right homes in the right places but also ensuring thriving, sustainable communities.
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