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The Times reported on Santander’s plans to close a fifth of its high street network and make over 800 staff redundant because customers are increasingly switching to online banking. 140 Santander branches will close, leaving 614 remaining in the UK....
The House of Lords Rural Economy Committee met for a final evidence session on the Government’s vision for the rural economy on Tuesday 22 January. The committee heard evidence from: Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for...
Carole Walker, is a former political news correspondent with the BBC. She has developed her own Podcast called 'The View from Here' and has kindly allowed the Rural Services Network to include it on their website. Talking about...
Health think tank The Nuffield Trust has published its review on the impact of rurality on the costs of delivering health care in partnership with the National Centre for Rural Health and Care . Those trusts which are unavoidably...
The Times Educational Supplement has published the results of a report that warns rural schools are facing ‘educational isolation’ beyond simply being based in a remote area. The report’s authors emphasise that coastal and rural schools can be isolated...
Canon Sally Gaze is the first Church of England Archdeacon for Rural Mission to be appointed, according to the Church Times. The Archdeacon for Rural Mission will help to increase church attendance in rural areas and strengthen community ties....
- Unemployment Claimant Flows as an Indicator of Economic Performance JSA claimant flows analysis (November 18) JSA claimants as percentage of working population analysis (June 18)...
UK farmers and landowners have written to MPs to warn of the disastrous impact of a no-deal Brexit on food supplies, as reported by the Guardian. They expressed three main concerns: disrupted food supplies, high prices and farmers going...
The Office for National Statistics has published data on the ‘Sandwich Generation’ – those who care for both their parents and dependent children. The report found that they are more likely to suffer from mental ill-health, feel less satisfied...
The 10-year plan for the future of the NHS was announced last week, it outlines how the NHS budget will be spent over the next five years. Broadly, its stated aims are to: enable everyone to get the best...
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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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