Access to Services
27 Sep 2015
Fuel poverty fund warms residents
RURAL local authorities are among those to benefit from a £25m fuel poverty fund. Nationwide more than 7,000 households across England will benefit from £25m worth of government funding to...
Read more
27 Sep 2015
BT unveils plan for faster broadband
BT has outlined its vision for better broadband amid criticism at the slow rollout of superfast connections. The company has unveiled plans for a new universal minimum broadband speed of...
Read more
16 Sep 2015
Patients ‘more aware of NHS choice’
Rural residents are more aware of their right to choose where they receive NHS care, suggests a survey. Conducted by NHS England and Monitor, the government says the survey indicates...
Read more
15 Sep 2015
Cost of rural crime ‘exceeds £800m’
The cost of crime in rural areas could exceed £800m – dwarfing earlier estimates, suggests a survey. The National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) surveyed more than 17,000 people living and...
Read more
11 Sep 2015
‘Rise to rural challenge of devolution’
England’s rural communities are being urged to rise to the challenge of devolution and secure a sustainable future. Rural challenges include supporting growth and overcoming barriers to infrastructure investment, said...
Read more
06 Sep 2015
Rural GP surgeries ‘in crisis’
Surgeries in rural regions are in crisis because it is difficult to recruit GPs, senior doctors have warned. Doctors told the BBC that the way surgeries are funded favours practices...
Read more
02 Sep 2015
Network backs rural crime campaign
The Rural Services Network (RSN) is encouraging members and supporters to respond to a government consultation on funding rural policing. The RSN is supporting a ‘rural policing matters‘ campaign by...
Read more
01 Sep 2015
Rural policing campaign launched
A NATIONAL campaign has been launched to highlight the importance of rural policing. The “Rural Policing Matters” campaign was launched by the National Rural Crime Network on Monday (1 September)....
Read more
27 Aug 2015
‘Rural rangers’ in fight against crime
POLICE have launched a scheme aimed at encouraging horse riders to volunteer to help fight rural crime. The Sussex Equine Rangers partnership seeks to promote collaboration between Sussex Police and...
Read more
21 Aug 2015
Plan ‘lacks ambition’ on broadband
THE government’s Rural Productivity Plan falls short when it comes to broadband, say rural business leaders. The 10-point plan – which aims to help “unleash” the potential of rural areas...
Read more