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Transport
Rural transport faces many challenges.
They range from high petrol and diesel costs as a percentage of household budgets to the lack of public transport in many areas and the threats to its survival in others.
Changes to public transport subsidies make community-run initiatives increasingly important to a growing number of rural residents.
The topic has rarely been bigger or more pressing.
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Latest updates:
Licence concern for community transport
7 August 2017
Rural community transport operators may face extra licence requirements, the government has suggested. (Rural Services Network)
Community transport to stay despite battle
11 August 2017
Suffolk’s community transport network – which links remote villages with towns – will be retained despite a court ruling forcing major changes to the service. (East Anglian Daily Times)
Government launches transport investment plan
5 July 2017
A transport investment strategy launched by the government outlines the role that transport infrastructure plays in stimulating the local as well as national economy. (Politics.co.uk)
‘Lifeline’ community transport service to close
19 July 2017
A community transport service for elderly people in Derbyshire is to close – just months after it was told it would be protected. (Derbyshire Times)
Shock as transport service is suspended
14 August 2017
Disabled and elderly people have spoken of their shock after they were left in the lurch when a transport service was suddenly suspended. (West Sussex County Times)
Ruling has implications for community transport
9 August 2017
The Government has moved decisively to halt community transport providers from competing with the taxi industry. (Cambridgeshire Times)
Plan to slash bus services under fire
10 August 2017
PLANS to slash rural bus services in and around Marlborough because of budget cuts by Wiltshire County Council have been condemned by a former mayor. (Gazette & Herald)
Community transport service awarded grant
4 August 2017
A volunteer community transport service has said they are delighted at a grant enabling them to continue with their lifeline service. (Dartmouth Today)
Flexible transport scheme launched
26 July 2017
A flexible bus service for people living in rural communities has been launched in Pembrokeshire. (Tenby Today)
Rural isolation holds back young people
7 August 2017
A review of further education has identified that rural isolation and lack of public transport is holding back students and employers (Darlington & Stockton Times)
Paid-for transport service launched for patients
11 August 2017
A NEW transport service for patients and visitors needing to access the Alexandra and Worcester Royal hospitals will start early in September. (Redditch & Alcester Advertiser)
Community-run bus services launch after cuts
7 August 2017
Residents across Dorset are rallying together to find alternative transport arrangements following county-wide cuts to bus services. (Daily Echo)
Nailsea transport group needs more volunteers
30 July 2017
An invaluable transport service which enables elderly and disabled people to access health appointments is looking for more volunteers. (North Somerset Times)
Woman plans charity run to help transport group
10 August 2017
A local woman is planning to tackle the Severn Bridge run to raise money for an important community transport service in the eastern Vale. (Glamorgan GEM)
Community bus service looks for volunteers
20 July 2017
A community bus service that prevents elderly and vulnerable residents from becoming 'prisoners in their own homes' is looking for volunteer drivers. (Lancashire Telegraph)
RSN Rural Transport NewsLatest news from the Rural Services Network
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Rural Transport Analysis
In depth articles from the Rural Services Network
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Government announcementsAnnouncements from DFT & other departments
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Latest reports and statisticsProvided by the Rural Services Network
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A local council has issued a £15,000 grant to support a community transport service which connects people in rural areas to vital services. North Lincolnshire Council gave the grant to the Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council for their Voluntary Car Service,...
Public funding cuts are contributing to a dramatic shrinking of Britain's bus network, suggests a study. Britain's bus routes have lost 134 million miles of coverage over the past decade alone, according to the BBC Local News...
RURAL residents are being urged to respond to a Department for Transport consultation on community railways. A community rail line is a railway supported by a local partnership giving local people a say in the development and...
A new network of travel hubs could give rural residents better access to public transport services. The hubs would make it easier for people from across South Cambridgeshire travel too and from Cambridge. Mini park and ride or...
Learner drivers should receive compulsory lessons on rural roads to reduce fatalities, say safety campaigners. Road safety charity Brake said a graduated licensing system would cut the number of accidents and serious injuries. It wants compulsory lessons on...
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release Thursday 3 August 2017 Responding to a government decision that community transport operators bidding for local authority bus service contracts may require a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator licence*, Rural Services Network assistant...
Launched at the House of Commons in January 2017, the State of Rural Services 2016 Report , not surprisingly, concludes that public and private sector service provision is reducing in rural areas – broadly due to a combination of austerity...
Research has consistently identified the overwhelming need for public transport in rural areas. The groups of people most directly affected are set out in many reports as follows: •...
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HOT TOPICS
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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