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Social Affairs Correspondent for the Independent, May Bulman, comments on a report released by the Institute for Public Policy Research North on the state of the north-south divide in the UK. The report marks five years since former chancellor...
Writing in The Telegraph, Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson pledged to tackle the digital divide He said that it was a ‘disgrace’ that there is such a ‘deep digital divide’ in the UK and that ‘so many rural areas...
The BBC are reporting about 70 people, including teachers, pupils and NHS staff, are meeting today to discuss mental health provision in west Cumbria after an initiative by young people in the area to increase the amount of help available...
The Telegraph reports that urban schools make more of an effort to teach pupils about gardening than their rural counterparts. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has said this is because children in cities are less likely to have green...
Graham Biggs was part of a panel of rural experts that gave evidence recently to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee who are currently exploring rural broadband and mobile coverage, the urban-rural divide, and future infrastructure challenges as the UK...
Post Office workers could be set for a pay rise after ministers agreed to review their wage rates in order to try to halt branch closures Many postmasters have warned that years of pay cuts have wiped out their profits,...
Channel 4 has produced a ten-minute news piece on poverty in rural Britain as part of its Breadline Britain series. The video emphasises that while the countryside is often idyllic looking, severe areas of poverty also exist which often...
Bus Users UK has published a ten-point plan to reverse the decline in rural services, according to the website Transport-Network.co.uk The group, which represents bus users, said that ‘changing lifestyles, flexible working, funding cuts and the regulatory environment are...
Consumer and rural groups unite to set out four key tests for mobile operator plans to boost rural 4G in a letter to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Signed by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA)...
Baroness Randerson writes in the parliamentary magazine This House to argue that a government strategy is needed to support council funding and increase passenger numbers on rural bus services. She argues that deregulation of the bus industry in the...
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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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