Future of Rural Areas

The RSN is challenging often overlooked rural threats such as chronic underfunding, changes in population and diminishing resources.

Hot Topics

15 Oct 2018

Report uncovers growing health crisis

The Care Quality Commission annual report has highlighted growing waiting lists, A&E delays and record dissatisfaction levels with GPs, according to the BBC. The patient group, National Voices, said the...

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15 Oct 2018

Local bus journeys at a 12-year low

New figures from the Department of Transport show that the number of local bus journeys has fallen to a 12-year low, according to the Guardian. This fall coincides with a...

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15 Oct 2018

Over a million people live in “food deserts”

The Guardian reported on a study by the Social Market Foundation think tank and Kellogg’s, revealing that more than a million people in the UK live in “food deserts” –...

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15 Oct 2018

Rural housing crisis solutions

PoliticsHome reported on a fringe event at the Conference organised by the CPRE and the National Housing Federation looking at the best way to increase the number of affordable homes...

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08 Oct 2018

Cautious welcome for social care funding

On Tuesday 2nd of October the Health Secretary announced additional £240m funding for social care. Funding to local authorities will be payable in 2018-19 to help deal with winter pressures. ...

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08 Oct 2018

Smart Rural Transport Areas (SMARTA) Project

Introduction SMARTA is an international research and demonstration project which is developing new insights into the challenges faced by rural communities across the world in maintaining good transport and accessibility....

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08 Oct 2018

Borrowing cap scrapped

There was broad media coverage of Theresa May’s  speech at the Conservative Party Conference, during which she announced that she is lifting the borrowing cap on local councils to help...

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08 Oct 2018

Calls for a online sales tax

The Times reports on calls from the Tesco boss for a two per cent tax on goods sold online to support ‘bricks-and-mortar’ retailers. Dave Lewis, Tesco’s chief executive, said an...

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08 Oct 2018

Towns are key election battlegrounds

The Sunday Times Magazine featured a long article on the increasing importance of voters living in towns across Britain. It highlighted the feeling of disempowerment that has been growing in...

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08 Oct 2018

Rural hospital success reported

The Daily Mail reported on Public Health England data collected over the last year from 151 hospitals showing that rural trusts have, on average, the fewest cases of E.Coli infections....

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