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The government has announced that it is piloting smart street lamps that can house EV charging hubs and boost wireless coverage, including 5G. Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire County Councils are among six areas in the UK to test the project which aims to...
A new stark warning from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) reveals the true picture of mental health concerns in rural areas. Following a Roundtable event looking at the impact the cost-of-living crisis in rural areas is...
“Last week, I was invited to speak at the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum policy conference which was exploring the topic of Beyond ‘smart cities’ - next steps for connected places policy and implementation in the UK . ...
A new study by Transport England and England’s Economic Heartland has found that there needs to be an almost six-fold increase in public electric vehicle charging points by 2025, in order to meet the uptake in demand. The ...
It’s been reported this month that supermarkets are overcharging customers in rural areas for fuel, as petrol prices reach their highest level for six months. According to the AA, the cost of petrol in the UK reached 149.13p, the...
It is vital that rural communities can access employment, training, education and services such as medical appointments. A lack of public transport options can make this more difficult. We’ve seen Government attempt to tackle transport policy in recent years with...
Research, completed by the Rural Services Network has shown that Urban Councils budget to spend double that of rural councils on discretionary services per head for the year 2023 – 2024. Rural authorities have long suffered from underfunding by...
Newspapers have reported last week of the reduction in bus routes over the last year as official figures are published by the Department for Transport. The BBC reports that ‘the latest official data seems to show a reduction of...
The Association of Convenience Stores, one of our Rural Services Partnership members, last week launched their 2023 Community Barometer. This explores how people value the services in their local area, what they would like to see more of, and...
Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network Kerry Booth featured on Farming Today on Monday 31st July talking about rural services. Here’s the discussion she had with presenter Charlotte Smith In England 13 rural organisations have come together...
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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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