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The government has published its latest guidance to assess the effects of its policies on rural areas. Rural areas are home to one-fifth of England's population and a quarter of all registered businesses – contributing over 16% of England's economy...
GRANTS of up to £5000 are on offer to communities who want to set up their own rural transport scheme in Dorset. The Community Transport Grant will fund costs associated with starting up and operating a scheme. Funding...
The Rural Services Network has welcomed a government decision to abandon a planned increase in national insurance payments by the self-employed. The U-turn by the government came a week after chancellor Philip Hammond used his 8 March Budget to...
Bus services have been hit hard by funding cuts with over 500 routes completely withdrawn or reduced in 2016/17. Nearly £30m has been cut from local authority supported bus funding in the last financial year, according the Campaign for Better...
THE government's Budget contained little joy for businesses in the countryside, say rural leaders. The Country Land and Business Association welcomed a cap on business rates but said it was "insufficient for thousands of rural businesses facing immediate harm"....
CAMPAIGNERS have called for a more strategic approach to rural land use and the countryside. The proposals are contained in a new pamphlet published on Sunday (5 March) by the Campaign to Protect Rural England . A national...
Fly-tipping incidents are on the rise – with more rubbish being illegally dumped in rural areas. Local authorities dealt with 936,000 fly-tipping incidents in 2015/16, according to the latest government statistics . This represents a 4% per cent...
Further action is neeeded to ensure that the government's Housing White Paper delivers for rural areas, an expert has warned. Jo Lavis, of Rural Housing Solutions, says the general thrust of the paper offers some potentially helpful mechanisms to...
Rural businesses around the M3 motorway are to receive a share of £3.6m in European funding. The funding is being awarded to rural businesses across north Hampshire as well as South and West Surrey. The rural economy in...
VITAL local services face further cuts – despite forthcoming rises in council tax. Council tax rises in 2017/18 will not bring in enough money to prevent further deep cuts to local services, said the Local Government Association. LGA...
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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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