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The Rt Hon Michael Gove has today (24th Jan) through written statement announced that he proposes to increase the Rural Services Delivery Grant by £15million for 2024/2025 resulting in a total of £110 Million. The Rural Services...
Businesses in rural areas perceive new opportunities for growth but long-standing challenges such as affordable housing, transport and broadband capacity are hampering take-up, according to a major new survey from the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE). Almost...
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has recently launched an ambitious report, "Let's Fix the Housing Crisis," aimed at addressing England's growing housing challenges. This report is part of their long-term plan for housing and emphasises the urgent need for collaborative...
The "Hidden Hardship" report, conducted by Dr. Stephanie Denning at Coventry University and vividly illustrated by Beth Waters, provides an in-depth and emotive portrayal of the challenges faced by rural communities in the North Cotswolds. The report unveils...
In a move that could disproportionately affect rural communities across the UK, the proposed 20% VAT hike on private hire and minicab journeys – colloquially termed the 'Taxi Tax' – is raising alarms about the accessibility of essential services, particularly...
The latest Connected Nations UK Report 2023 sheds light on the digital connectivity in the UK, revealing a stark contrast between urban and rural regions. The report shows a considerable gap in indoor 4G coverage. In some rural parts...
A recent parliamentary debate has shed light on the stark funding disparities between urban and rural areas, with a particular focus on Cornwall. The debate, which was held on 15th January 2024, brought to the forefront the ongoing challenges that...
The Rural Services Network is the national voice for rural areas, campaigning on our members behalf for a fairer deal for rural communities. The consultation on the way that Government allocates funding for rural councils closed yesterday. However, you...
The Rural Services Network has yesterday submitted its response to the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement consultation. This followed a meeting of local authority Leaders, Senior Councillors and Senior Finance Officers in SPARSE membership of the Rural Services Network, those...
A debate in the House of Commons on 9th January raised concerns over the lack of NHS dentists available. It cited a Nuffield Trust report into the State of NHS Dentistry which states that NHS funded dental...
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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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