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THE Rural Services Network has welcomed a government promise to do more to support and manage the extra costs of delivering public services in the countryside. The pledge, by local government minister Brandon Lewis, follows a campaign by...
RURAL residents in Lancashire have some of the UK's fastest internet speeds after creating their own community broadband network. The Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) initiative held a public demonstration event day at the Arkholme village hall...
PEOPLE are being urged to lend their support to a bid to bring superfast broadband to rural Durham. Some £13.86m has been secured by Durham County Council to provide the technology in areas which would otherwise miss out...
HIGHER fuel prices paid by rural motorists are not the result of foul play, says the government's competition watchdog. Petrol is around 1.9ppl more expensive in the countryside than in towns and cities. Similarly, diesel costs around 1.7ppl...
THE government says it accepts that rural areas are underfunded when it comes to delivering public services. Andrew Lansley, Leader of the House of Commons, said he acknowledged that the local government settlement was a " matter of...
RECENT approval for the upgrade of the UK's rural broadband network has been welcomed by distance learning service providers. The £530m rural broadband scheme will improve web services in the country's more remote areas, said the Distance Learning...
RURAL leaders have struck a deal they say will bring faster broadband speeds a step closer for the countryside. The deal means not-for-profit and private companies looking to install infrastructure for community rural broadband networks can work with...
RURAL job hunters are being given passes allowing them free bus travel in Northamptonshire. Fifty passes are providing up to six round-trip journeys for job interviews on the county's pioneering CountyConnect bus service. They are being issued...
THE 300th community-owned shop has opened, marking a significant increase in community-owned rural services across the UK. Cobham Community Shop opened its doors last month in Kent, representing a thriving sector which continues to buck national trends of...
RURAL leaders are joining forces with the police to combat countryside crime in Devon and Cornwall. Two events will bring toether business leaders, Devon & Cornwall Police and experts from private security firms to look at the ways...
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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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