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The Government announced plans on 19th April to support online learning by providing disadvantaged children across England with laptops and tablets as part of a push to make remote education accessible for pupils staying at home during the coronavirus outbreak...
MPs have launched an inquiry into Broadband and road to 5G to examine Government’s pledge to ensure every home and business in the UK has gigabit-capable broadband by 2025 The inquiry will focus on how realistic the ambition is,...
Every home and business in the UK has the legal right to request a decent, affordable broadband connection From 20 March 2020, if you can’t get a download speed of 10 Mbit/s and an upload speed of 1 Mbit/s,...
A headteacher in a rural school in North Yorkshire has warned of a ‘gap in provision’ for rural pupils if they are forced to learn at home due to schools closing because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Tes ...
MailOnline reports in their money section, ThisIsMoney, that households in rural areas of Britain have been promised better internet speeds as the Government pledged £5 billion towards providing fast broadband to 'the hardest to reach places' in last week’s Budget...
The Daily Mail reports that chancellor Rishi Sunak vows to end patchy mobile phone reception and slow broadband in this week's Budget The chancellor is tipped to announce a £1billion deal with telecoms firms to boost 4G coverage in...
The Conservative MP for West Dorset, Chris Loder, writes in The Bridport News this week that the BBC’s plans to cut airtime of BBC Radio Solent’s Dorset Breakfast Show and end the text-based Red Button service will disproportionately affect...
In January we hosted the regional seminar for the Yorkshire and Humber region, postponed due to the election in December 2019 We hold these events as we recognise that not all of our members can travel to the London...
Several trade press outlets, including E&T Magazine, TechRadar and IT Pro have reported on news that Openreach are expanding full-fibre rollout to cover 250,000 rural premises in more than 200 rural locations by March next year The infrastructure firm...
The National Farmer’s Union (NFU) has called for the Government to prioritise rural connectivity as survey results indicate that more than four in 10 farmers don't have enough broadband to conduct their businesses effectively, according to The Poultry Site. ...
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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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