The National Rural Conference 2025

Bookings are now officially open for the National Rural Conference 2025, which will take place online from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 September.
This is the Rural Services Network’s flagship event of the year, bringing together rural decision-makers, practitioners, and advocates for four days of live, interactive sessions focused on the future of rural communities.
Click here to book!

High street report findings

The BBC reported on the publication of Sir John Timpson’s High Street Report.

The report noted that a combination of internet shopping and the convenience of ‘out of town’ retailing has increased the number of empty shops and decreased footfall.

Short term recommendations include a campaign to eliminate unsightly graffiti and litter, an initiative to combat empty shops and better parking facilities. In the longer term, the report advocates the creation of a High Streets Task Force.

Sir John told BBC Breakfast that reviving high streets and town centres was ‘about communities and creating a hub for entertainment, medical facilities [and] housing. We probably have about twice as many shops as we need. But we are short of housing’.

Full article:

→ Assets Publishing Service - The High Street Report