Barriers to Access

The RSN campaigns to help rural residents overcome multiple access barriers to key services which includes poor transport and broadband.

Hot Topics

09 Apr 2017

£2m awarded to rural transport groups

DOZENS of community groups have been awarded a share of £2m to help keep rural people on the move. The money was awarded by the government in the second round...

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05 Apr 2017

Bank closures to hit rural businesses

A fresh round of bank branch closures threatens to make life difficult for rural firms, say business leaders. Some 100 branches owned by the Lloyds Banking Group are expected to...

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02 Apr 2017

Fibre ‘best’ to bring broadband to final 5%

Fibre is the best way to bring broadband to rural areas – but it is also the most expensive, says Daniel Heery. I recently found myself driving to the heart...

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31 Mar 2017

Bus service combats rural isolation

An award-winning bus service is helping rural residents access healthcare, training and employment and leisure services. Tailored to the needs of its passengers, the Bwcabus service serves rural Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion...

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31 Mar 2017

Ofcom seeks broadband investment

Ofcom has announced measures it says will promote investment in new fibre broadband networks. The telecoms watchdog says it wants to protect broadband customers and promote competition, by cutting the...

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27 Mar 2017

The Buses Bill: What’s in it for rural services?

The Buses Bill must deliver for rural communities, says Claire Walters. Set for royal assent in May this year, the Buses Bill is being widely heralded as an opportunity to...

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27 Mar 2017

Rural businesses lack reliable broadband

Rural businesses are twice as likely to have inadequate internet connections as those in cities, says a study. Companies say they lack reliable broadband connections, despite ranking fully functional broadband...

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23 Mar 2017

Councils highlight importance of services

Representatives from England’s 10,000 parish and town aim to raise their profile by marching on parliament. The third ever ‘Lobby Day’ by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will see...

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15 Mar 2017

Funds for Dorset rural transport

GRANTS of up to £5000 are on offer to communities who want to set up their own rural transport scheme in Dorset. The Community Transport Grant will fund costs associated...

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13 Mar 2017

Warning over ‘transport desert’ bus cuts

Bus services have been hit hard by funding cuts with over 500 routes completely withdrawn or reduced in 2016/17. Nearly £30m has been cut from local authority supported bus funding...

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