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FUEL poverty figures have prompted a call for the government to tackle the tariffs of the big six energy companies. Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis said action was needed following figures showing that one in 10 households can't afford...
Government plans will see small rural schools protected by a 'sparsity' funding factor have been broadly welcomed. Education secretary Justine Greening made the announcement in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 14 December. The proposals would end an...
The government's telecoms watchdog says one in four rural homes still cannot get a decent broadband connection. New research by Ofcom found that the number of UK properties unable to get a decent broadband connection had fallen by one...
POST Offices are becoming more important to local communities and should be more accessible, says the Rural Services Network. The RSN made the recommendation in response to a government consultation on services offered by the post office network ....
The Rural Services Network has slammed the government's provisional funding settlement for local authorities. Rural communities will be severely disadvantaged by the settlement, which covers proposed local authority funding for 2017 and 2018, says the network. The funding...
Mobile phone network coverage in the UK is worse than in Romania, Albania and Peru, says a report. Britain is 54th in the world for 4G coverage, and the typical user can only access 4G barely half the time,...
Councils are using new powers to crush vehicles belonging to fly-tippers who illegally dump rubbish in the countryside. Local authorities are also calling for the closure of a legal loophole which means officers must give some fly-tippers seven days...
THE government-backed Great British High Street competition has revealed the nation's best high streets. Twenty-seven finalists now have the chance to impress an expert judging panel and battle it out in a public vote to be...
Countryside communities must join forces to secure a fair deal from the government following Brexit, the Rural Services Network has warned. Rural Services Network chair Cecilia Motley said a united front across all rural interest groups and sectors was...
THE government has announced a fivefold increase in its Rural Services Delivery Grant from £15.5m to £80.5m. It follows months of work on behalf of rural communities and local authorities by the Rural Services Network. The Rural Fair...
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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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