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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
SUPPORTING local shops and community facilities are among key plans for a market town. A regeneration masterplan drawn up by Durham County Council for Crook aims to support retail development and improve the town centre environment. Local...
ONE thousand rural businesses will benefit from the first grants under a new government scheme, claim ministers. The £20m Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme will turn business plans into reality, said farm minister Jim Paice. Farmers, foresters...
RURAL businesses have until the end of the month to apply for the first round of funding from a major new grant scheme. The Rural Economy Grant is aimed at helping farmers and rural entrepreneurs to start and...
COMPETITION watchdogs should investigate high rural fuel prices, the government has been told. Tory MP Sarah Newton believes the Office of Fair Trading should look into the reasons why petrol costs up to 5p/litre more in rural areas....
UP TO £100m is available to help households keep warm during 2012/13 – the last year of the Warm Front scheme. Scheme organisers highlighted the figure after a mild winter saw some funding for 2011/12 due to be...
BRITAIN'S best 50 places to live are highlighted in a survey of rural areas with the best quality of life. Cambridgeshire occupies two of the top three positions of the latest Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey....
MARKET towns are set to be among the beneficiaries of a £1m fund to help revitalise Britain's high streets. The government funding will be made available to help revitalise local economies by support the creation of high street...
PLANS to reform the local bus subsidy system have been welcomed by Britain's biggest bus operator. The government proposals aim to attract more people on to buses while giving local transport authorities more influence over local bus networks....
THE government has unveiled the long-awaited final version of its National Planning Policy Framework. The 50-page document, which replaces over 1,300 pages of policy in 44 separate documents, was published on Tuesday (27 March). Planning minister Greg...
A NEW broadband scheme aims to boost business in the North Yorkshire market towns of Malton and Norton. But firms must act quickly as funding deadlines mean that applications for grants must be submitted by 30th April 2012....
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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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