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YourMoney.com reported that Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it will close 56 branches across the country between April and October, including 31 Lloyds, 10 Halifax and 15 Bank of Scotland branches in response to reduced customer demand for in-branch services...
Electronic Payments International reported on news that Visa has launched an industry-wide ‘access to cash’ scheme to encourage retailers to offer cashback. The initiative specifically targets areas in the UK where consumers currently struggle to access cash, such as...
Yahoo Finance reports that Friday 20th December was forecast as the busiest day of the year for the Post Office in terms of cash withdrawals across its 11,500 branches On Friday December 21st last year, Post Office branches handled...
The Post Office has announced a new agreement with 28 UK banks to ensure that millions of their customers continue to have national, free access to everyday banking services. Our branches remain where banks no longer exist. With 6000 branches...
Kent Live covers the news that more than 100 requests for free-to-use ATMs have been made across the UK It comes after The Community Access to Cash Delivery Fund announced that it was taking requests for free-to-use ATMs in places with...
The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) is seeking co-signatures for an open letter to Barclays CEO Jes Staley The NFSP is requesting that the bank reverse its decision to cease allowing customers to withdraw cash at post...
The Guardian reports a decision by Barclays to pull out of an agreement allowing bank customers to withdraw cash from post offices for free has been criticised as “shocking”. The bank is the only one to scrap over-the-counter cash...
ITV News reports that Barclays bank has pledged not to close bank branches in remote areas, or where the bank is the last in the area for two years. Barclays said the freeze on closure will protect more than 100...
The bank of England have unveiled the design of the new £20 note featuring the artist JMW Turner It will be issued for the first time on 20 February 2020. The polymer £20 note contains sophisticated security...
ATM machine operator Link has established the Community Access to Cash Delivery Fund to tackle concerns that it is becoming harder to access cash, as reported by ITV The fund is currently worth £1 million, but more money is...
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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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