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Community-owned shops are often performing better than major supermarket chains, says a rural review of the sector. Launched by the Plunkett Foundation on Friday (20 June), the study says 2013 was another good year for the community shop...
THE winners have been announced for a £10m governmment fund to explore ways of bringing superfast broadband to the UK's most remote areas. Eight different projects using a range of technologies have been shortlisted to progress to the...
Council grants will help to secure almost £2m of investment in community facilities in West Oxfordshire towns and villages. A total of £169,238 has been awarded to a variety of projects to help deliver new community facilities and...
LEVELS of fuel poverty are set to rise among older people in the UK, a charity has warned. Age UK launched its report to coincide with government figures showing fuel poverty levels remain stubbornly high. Despite a...
POLICE are to invest £1.5m a year to help combat rural crime in Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The funding - until 2016 - was announced by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore. It will...
THE Post Office has unveiled a fleet of 40 new vehicles to serve 250 rural locations every week across the UK. Kitted out to provide a walk-in post office on wheels, the vehicles are operated by subpostmasters who...
FOUR local councils have unveiled plans to team up and deliver public services – a partnership they claim will save £55m over 10 years. The '2020 Vision for Joint Working' involves the district councils of Cotswold, Forest of...
RURAL residents in England and Wales could lose out from a government scheme aimed at making energy saving improvements to their homes. The Green Deal Home Improvement Scheme was announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change...
WORKSHOPS aim to help local authorities submit bids to the government's Transformation Challenge Award. The ½ day sessions aim to support authorities with the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) element of bids to the Transformation Challenge Award . They...
RURAL motorists are feeling the pinch after fuel prices started to rise again. Average UK petrol prices went back above 130p a litre at the end of April and continue to hover around that level, according to the...
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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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