T: 01822 851370 E: admin@sparse.gov.uk
THE government's localism agenda is having little impact on the ground, suggests a report. Local groups are leading inspirational projects – but without using new rights, says the study by the Yorkshire and Humber Rural Network. The...
PUBLIC funding should be used to attract investment in superfast rural broadband networks, says a report. Launched by the Carnegie UK Trust and the Community Broadband Network , the document examines the options for future investment in rural...
MORE funding is urgently needed to train volunteer drivers to keep vital community transport schemes on the road, say charities. The Community Transport Association (CTA) and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) want the to allocate a...
COUNCIL tax bills are higher for rural residents than they are for people in predominantly urban areas, the government has confirmed. The figures were revealed in answer to a parliamentary question from Graham Stuart, Conservative MP for Beverley...
ALMOST three-quarters of residents are satisfied with the way local councils run services, reveals a report. Levels of trust in councils have risen significantly over the last decade, according to the sector-led improvement baseline evaluation report by the...
HIGH-SPEED broadband moved a step closer for Buckinghamshire, which wants a company to lay cables in areas with slow or no connections. The announcement follows a government announcement to increase its funding contribution of £3.07 million for broadband...
The government says it is again considering whether to reduce fuel duty for rural motorists. Chief secretary Danny Alexander said the Treasury was considering lobbying Brussels for a cut in fuel duty for motorists in remote rural areas....
FIVE police forces took part in a joint operation to crack down on rural crime across almost 4,000 square miles of northern England. Officers from Durham, Northumbria, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Cleveland took part in the operation, which...
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...
Sign up to receive all our latest news and updates.
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.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates.