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A MAJOR operation involving six police forces saw a clampdown on criminals across the rural north of England. Dozens of officers from North Yorkshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire and Northumbria, took part in Operation Checkpoint. The largest...
AN innovative rural bus services is set to carry more passengers after expanding to cover North Lincolnshire. Rural residents are being offered access to Lincolnshire County Council 's unique CallConnect rural bus service in a new partnership with...
Rural areas have borne the brunt of more than 600 bank branch closures over the past year. Parts of south-west England, Scotland and Wales lost the most branches per head of population in the 12 months to April...
RURAL communities face a 'digital twilight zone' unless minimum broadband standards move with the times, say local authorities. It comes as the Local Government Association launches an Up to Speed campaign, which aims to ensure every...
FASTER broadband connections will not be automatically rolled out to isolated rural areas, the government has confirmed. Instead, rural homes and businesses will have to request connections – a process which could involve a four-year wait. Confirmation...
NHS planning threatens to marginalise rural health needs, claims a local authority's watchdog. North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny committee voiced its misgivings after meeting to consider NHS planning guidance for the next five years. A key...
Women in Norfolk are being asked to sign up for free rural writing workshops at their local library. They will work with professional writers to write down their experiences of living in rural and coastal communities. The...
POLICE in Lancashire have received special training in the fight against rural crime. The aim is to help curtail theft of plant and farm machinery – including tractors, excavators and other equipment. Officers from across the county...
We are working on the next Spotlight edition for anyone interested in rural health. We are also developing ideas to strengthen the effectiveness of the Rural Health Network and are seeking to understand what would be most useful...
Government plans for faster broadband threaten to impose an unfair cost on rural residents, says the Rural Services Network. The warning is contained in response to a broadband consultation by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. ...
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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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