Concerns about rural access to banking
Yorkshire Coast Radio reported on plans by the Chair of North Yorkshire Council to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the impact of bank branch closures on small and medium sized businesses. The letter will highlight that […]
Mobile coverage on motorways
It is being widely reported that around 5,000 miles of British roads have no mobile phone coverage, meaning that stranded drivers are unable to call for help. A further 44,369 miles of road only have partial voice coverage according to the study carried out by the RAC Foundation. This creates difficulties for those who have […]
NFU rural broadband survey
The National Farmers’ Union has called on the Government to ensure that farmers across the country have access to adequate broadband. The NFU launched a survey to ‘build a true picture of connectivity in the countryside’. The findings will be used to bolster the NFU’s position when they push for better connectivity during talks with […]
Farmers criticise plans for migrant workers
Following the Government’s new visa scheme announcement on Thursday, several farmers’ associations have criticised the plans as, ‘simply not enough’. The new visa scheme, announced by the Home Secretary and the Environment Secretary, will allow 2,500 migrant workers per year into the UK for six months to alleviate fruit and vegetable farms during harvests. It […]
Elderly care ‘on brink of collapse’
A new survey by the charity Independent Age has revealed that chronic under-funding of social care means that older people are ‘increasingly let down’ by the system. During a survey of 2,000 English adults, 74% support free personal care for those who need it, to help with getting dressed, cooking or shopping. 69% of respondents […]
Footpaths access post-Brexit
A number of local and national papers reported that the walking charity, Ramblers, has urged that farmers to use their taxpayer subsidies to maintain footpaths on their land after Brexit. Under current law farmers have a duty to maintain paths on their land but seven in 10 people say they have encountered problems on walks […]
RBS to shut 54 bank branches
The Royal Bank of Scotland has announced it will close 54 branches across England and Wales in January 2019, with 258 jobs set to be lost. This follows 162 branch closures already announced in 2018. The Unite union has spoken out, calling the decision ‘disgusting’ and highlighting that it will be ‘the disabled, elderly and […]
RSN Rural Conference 2018
Tuesday 4th of September 2018 11:30 Arrival & Registration 11:50 Welcome & Introduction Councillor Motley (Chair, Rural Services Network)– Graham Biggs (Chief Executive, Rural Services Network) A Welcome from the Post Office (The Conference Principal Sponsor) Debbie Smith – (Chief Executive, Retail, (Post Office) Download this presentation here 12:10 Panel Discussion – “Innovation in Context” […]
