T: 01822 851370 E: [email protected]
AN evening bus service looks secure after the operator pledged to run the route commercially. Evening buses connecting villages between Brighton and Tunbridge Wells are currently under the spotlight as part of a review of routes subsidised by...
A FORMER church building will be turned into a village shop thanks to a community assets fund. The Ilmington Community Shop initiative in Warwickshire is among six community projects to receive funding to save a local building or...
RURAL councils are among those suffering most from government cutbacks, the Rural Services Network has said. The network issued the warning after the National Audit Office said cuts meant some councils were showing clear signs of financial stress...
A COUNTY council has backed a call for action to stem the flow of young people from rural areas. Members of all parties on North Yorkshire County Council voted unanimously to use their "considerable influence" to combat the...
GOVERNMENT cuts are forcing local authorities to reduce public services, a financial watchdog has warned. Authorities had coped well with reductions in government funding, but some groups of councils were showing clear signs of financial stress, said the...
A SCHEME which loans scooters and motorcycles to help people get to work is in the running for an award. The East Sussex Wheels 2 Work initiative been shortlisted in the social enterprise of the year category in...
THE government has unveiled £25m in funding to provide hundreds of minibuses for rural communities. The scheme will support voluntary organisations as they provide vital services for people in rural communities with limited transport choices. Transport secretary...
THE government is inviting views from rural stakeholders before updating its deprivation indices. The Department for Communities and Local Government says the aim is to update and refine the indices, including the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) ...
RURAL homes are more expensive than urban homes in all regions of England, reveals the latest research. Countryside properties continue to command a substantial price premium over urban homes, according to statistics from Halifax. On average, homes...
A £2m intiative has helped create and save more than 183km of public rights of way. Launched in 2012, the Paths for Communities (P4C) scheme, was set up to develop and enhance local public paths, extending access and...
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
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.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates.