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The Rural Services Network (RSN) is thrilled to announce the National Rural Conference 2024, taking place from 16th to 19th September. This virtual event, accessible via Zoom, is the premier gathering for senior officers, members, policymakers, and rural service professionals.
Further information and booking details can be found here
The Local Government Association published a report last week highlighting concerns that ‘millions of people living in rural England are at risk of being 'left behind' and missing out on their fair share of future prosperity following the UK’s withdrawal...
FarmingUK reports on a major survey conducted by the Countryside Alliance showed that only 8.5 per cent of people think that life in the countryside has improved in the last 5 years. Of the 3,000 people based in UK...
Inside Housing carries a piece on the affordability of homes in rural areas. The article written by Calor Gas highlights the shift of urban workers, retirees and second home owners to the countryside, and the resulting pressure on rural...
The Oxford Mail reports on the successful first year of an app-based pilot scheme launched by Oxford Bus Company, PickMeUp, which allows passengers to summon buses within 15 minutes using an app. Passengers are matched with others looking to...
Social Affairs Correspondent for the Independent, May Bulman, comments on a report released by the Institute for Public Policy Research North on the state of the north-south divide in the UK. The report marks five years since former chancellor...
Writing in The Telegraph, Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson pledged to tackle the digital divide He said that it was a ‘disgrace’ that there is such a ‘deep digital divide’ in the UK and that ‘so many rural areas...
The Telegraph reports that urban schools make more of an effort to teach pupils about gardening than their rural counterparts. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has said this is because children in cities are less likely to have green...
Graham Biggs was part of a panel of rural experts that gave evidence recently to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee who are currently exploring rural broadband and mobile coverage, the urban-rural divide, and future infrastructure challenges as the UK...
A petition on the Age UK website that is calling on the Government to fund free TV licences for over-75s has reached half a million signatures. The petition, Switched Off: Save free TV for older people, aims to reached...
Post Office workers could be set for a pay rise after ministers agreed to review their wage rates in order to try to halt branch closures Many postmasters have warned that years of pay cuts have wiped out their profits,...
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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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