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AN urgent adjustment to local government funding is needed to deliver vital rural services, a leading MP has warned. How to fund local public services is one of the big questions at Westminster, said Somerset MP James Heappey ....
Rural areas could become "cash deserts" unless a solution is found to a dispute over ATM fees, it has been claimed. The argument is between some banks and independent cash machine providers. Members of Link, operator of the...
THE government is facing calls to help secure the future of thousands of rural shops. Campaigners say action is needed so 19,128 rural shops can continue to provide essential services. Many village stores double up as the local...
More than 1000 rural schools are threatened with closure because of government funding cuts, say researchers. It comes despite a government pledge to add a "sparsity factor" to its funding formula that takes into account a school's location and...
Rural communities are suffering due to the patchy provision of key services, a major report has warned. Transport, education, health and welfare services that act as a lifeline to more than 9m rural people are patchy – and many...
RURAL communities face a double whammy of higher council tax bills and fewer public services, the Rural Services Network has warned. The warning is contained in the network's response to the government's 2017-2018 provisional funding settlement for local authorities....
The Rural Services Network has called the Government's response to a Sunday newspaper article "nothing more than a smokescreen designed to mask the real issue facing rural council tax payers". The article – Rural families face double blow of higher...
Early bird discounts are available for major conference to discuss strategies for improving rural healthcare. Due to take place in London on 28 February, the Rural Health Conference is being organised by the Rural Services Network in partnership with...
A Worcestershire MP is urging local businesses to help make the case for better rural broadband. Harriett Baldwin is calling on local entrepreneurs to take part in a survey to help Worcestershire County Council to get more investment to...
Rural areas feature highly in the UK's best places to live, according to the latest Halifax Quality of Life Survey. The local authority district of Winchester in Hampshire scooped the top spot based on residents' health and life expectancy, employment...
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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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