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FUEL poverty figures have prompted a call for the government to tackle the tariffs of the big six energy companies. Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis said action was needed following figures showing that one in 10 households can't afford...
Government plans will see small rural schools protected by a 'sparsity' funding factor have been broadly welcomed. Education secretary Justine Greening made the announcement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 14 December. The proposals would end an...
The government's telecoms watchdog says one in four rural homes still cannot get a decent broadband connection. New research by Ofcom found that the number of UK properties unable to get a decent broadband connection had fallen by one...
POST Offices are becoming more important to local communities and should be more accessible, says the Rural Services Network. The RSN made the recommendation in response to a government consultation on services offered by the post office network ....
The Rural Services Network has slammed the government's provisional funding settlement for local authorities. Rural communities will be severely disadvantaged by the settlement, which covers proposed local authority funding for 2017 and 2018, says the network. The funding...
Mobile phone network coverage in the UK is worse than in Romania, Albania and Peru, says a report. Britain is 54th in the world for 4G coverage, and the typical user can only access 4G barely half the time,...
A new project aims to highlight how rural services can be sustained by local residents – and how local people can shape rural policy. The project is being led by the charity Action with Communities in Rural England...
RURAL villages in South Gloucestershire are being given access to fibre broadband following more investment. The fibre to the premises (FTTP) scheme covers villages from Elberton to Littleton-Upon-Severn after South Gloucestershire Council was able to secure an additional £1.49m...
BT has been ordered to separate from its network provider Openreach – in a move aimed at improving broadband and phone services. The split was ordered by Ofcom, the government's telecommunications watchdog, after BT failed to offer voluntary...
POLICE are urging rural residents to 'Call it in' and help target crime in the countryside. North Yorkshire Police's Rural Taskforce said local communities were their 'eyes and ears'– allowing officers to clamp down on crime wherever it occurs....
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HOT TOPICS
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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