Author: <span>Maryann Macaulay</span>
24 Mar 2026
The Rural Reality: Heating Oil Pressures Continue
Following our recent coverage of rising heating oil costs, the Rural Services Network has continued to hear directly from members about the real-world impact on rural households and communities. As...
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24 Mar 2026
Over 3 Million UK Households Move To Digital Landlines
With the UK’s 40-year-old analogue landline network set to close at the end of January 2027, BT has revealed that the majority of its landline customers, over three million households,...
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24 Mar 2026
Rural Poverty Report Highlights Hidden Hardship
A new report from the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG) has highlighted the scale and nature of poverty across rural Britain, challenging assumptions that countryside communities are largely affluent. The...
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24 Mar 2026
Rural Amendment Returns At Report Stage Of Devolution Bill
Following our previous coverage of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s calls to strengthen the recognition of rural communities within the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill , there has been...
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24 Mar 2026
Tougher Measures Unveiled To Tackle Waste Crime
The Government has announced a new Waste Crime Action Plan, setting out a tougher, “zero-tolerance” approach to illegal dumping across England. The plan includes stronger enforcement powers for the Environment...
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24 Mar 2026
Entries Open For 2026 Rural Community Business Awards
Plunkett UK is now welcoming entries for its 2026 awards, sponsored by Lands Improvement, celebrating the best of community-owned businesses across the country. This year’s Rural Community Business Awards will...
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23 Mar 2026
Deliver Emergency Heating Oil Support With Evouchers
Following the recent Government announcement of support for vulnerable heating oil households, Evouchers have acted fast to bring local authoritries a heating oil prepaid card. If your local authority has...
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06 Mar 2026
RSN Warns Rural Households Hit Hardest By Oil Price Surge
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has warned that rural households and businesses are particularly exposed to rising oil prices as global energy markets react to escalating tensions in the Middle...
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10 Feb 2026
Parliamentary Committee Examines Social Housing Conditions
A new report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has found that progress in improving the condition of social housing in England has largely stalled since the pandemic,...
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22 Sep 2025
Kerry Booth: Why Fair Funding Matters for Rural Councils
Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, was recently invited to contribute a blog reflecting on the funding challenges faced by rural councils. We are pleased to share...
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