Author: <span>Philip Cornish</span>
20 May 2012
Project alleviates rural fuel poverty
A PROJECT to alleviate fuel poverty has helped almost 200 households in one of England’s smallest counties. Households in fuel poverty are defined as those that spend more than 10%...
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17 May 2012
South-west showcase for business
RURAL businesses in south-west England show it is possible to innovate and grow, believes DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman. Mrs Spelman’s held a rural roadshow at the Devon County Show on...
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15 May 2012
Benefit change ‘threatens communities’
CHANGES in housing benefit rules threaten to break up rural communities, a report has warned. Rural tenants could be forced to move tens of miles away from friends and family,...
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14 May 2012
Rights-of-way rules to be revised
PROPOSALS to modernise the process of recording rights of way have been unveiled by the government. The proposals were developed in consultation with groups such as the Ramblers and Country...
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14 May 2012
Study set to revitalise cod fishing
THE Countryside and Community Research Institute is examining the impact of different practices on cod fishing. Based in Gloucestershire, the CCRI is undertaking the research for the North Sea Regional...
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11 May 2012
Watchdog slams regional growth fund
THE government’s £1.4bn regional growth fund is failing to deliver value for money, says the official financial watchdog. The fund was established to support private sector jobs and growth in...
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11 May 2012
MP: Remember rural communities
FORGOTTEN rural communities must be treated more fairly, an MP has warned. Neil Parish, Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton, said greater fairness was needed in the shaping of government...
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11 May 2012
Rural grant scheme oversubscribed
THE government’s £60m rural economy grant scheme has been massively oversubscribed. Hundreds of applications were sent to Defra by the 30 April deadline, with total grants requested dwarfing available funds....
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10 May 2012
Rural broadband fund reopens
RURAL communities have a second chance to apply for rural broadband funding. It aims to help communities in the remotest areas get superfast broadband to help transform their businesses and...
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10 May 2012
Plan to overhaul local audits
A BILL to establish new arrangements for auditing local bodies was included in the Queen’s Speech. The draft Audit Bill will be published during the summer for pre-legislative scrutiny. It...
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