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A new report into broadband access shows the "dire" level of availability in rural areas, says Lib Dem leader Tim Farron. The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP said u rgent action should be taken to improve poor availability of...
A partnership to provide 90,000 homes and business with superfast broadband has reached 80% of its target. The Superfast Dorset partnership has made fibre broadband available to more than 72,000 households and businesses in the county....
A government pledge to bring faster broadband to the countryside must be made reality, say rural leaders. It follows a promise by Prime Minister David Cameron that even the most rural areas would have access to a fast...
RURAL businesses have urged telecom watchdog Ofcom not to separate broadband provider Openreach from BT. The Country Land and Business Association said it wanted BT to deliver better broadband. But it stopped short of calling for the...
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 5-10 Megabits per second (Mbps) for every home...
RURAL broadband connections are half as fast as those available in cities - and much slower than the national average. In 2014, the average broadband speed in rural England was 13Mbits per second compared to 26Mbps in urban...
BUSINESSES in east Cheshire can take advantage of two schemes to help them reap the benefits of superfast broadband. Small and medium-sized businesses could get grants of up to £3,000 to upgrade to a superfast or ultrafast broadband...
The Marshwood Vale Community Broadband Project shows how an innovative approach can deliver better connections to hard-to-reach rural communities. Later in 2015 this project will begin rolling out superfast broadband to almost every household and business...
A community-led broadband project is set to roll out superfast connections to part of rural Dorset. The main Superfast Dorset programme aims to meet the government target of delivering a superfast connection of at least 24 Mbps to...
SLOW broadband connections threaten to undermine the rural economy – and can only be fixed by government investment, MPs have been told. Rural leaders briefed MPs ahead of a debate led by Tiverton and...
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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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