Tell us about your rural community working together during lockdown
With communities in lockdown at home, online delivery slots booked up several weeks in advance, and in England’s rural areas, 11% of premises – households and businesses – are unable to access a broadband connection with 10 Mbps there is a danger that our rural communities will suffer significant disadvantage in the coming weeks Simple […]
Possible impact of changes to the calculation of sparsity/rurality cost in the Fair Funding Review
At the Rural Services Network we recently sent to all of our local authority SPARSE-Rural members (for whom we carry out work and representations on the Local Government Funding Formula) a report from our Finance Consultants – Pixel setting out their modelling of the possible impact of changes to the calculation of sparsity/rurality cost in […]
Rural ‘hospital deserts’ at most risk of being overwhelmed
Sky News reports on research published by Oxford University’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science that warns of potential ‘hospital deserts’ – areas where demand for beds for coronavirus patients is likely to outstrip supply as the illness spreads Currently, there are only 2.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people across the country – but there are […]
Share with us your concerns for the Rural Economy during the Covid-19 lockdown
The Rural Economy is home to over half a million registered businesses, which makes up 24% of all of the registered businesses in England. Most registered businesses in rural areas are small and almost 18% of them have no employees, being sole traders or partnerships (more than double the equivalent urban figure). Some 84% of […]
Melton MP calls for tougher action on rising rural crime
The Melton Times reports how Melton and Rutland MP, Alicia Kearns, has been pressing the Government to introduce more stringent measures to combat rural organised crime She secured a Westminster Hall debate on 18th March to call for a rural crime unit to be created and for the UK Border Agency to undertake a review […]
Call for more support for rural firms impacted by coronavirus
On Wednesday, Farming UK echoed calls for the Government to issue ‘rural proofed’ support for businesses in the countryside impacted by the coronavirus Rural businesses, which often differ considerably to those in urban areas, risk being overlooked in support packages provided by the Government, according to a written submission to the Treasury Select Committee from […]
Community Heartbeat Trust – COVID-19 support in rural communities
by Martin Fagan, National Secretary, the Community Heartbeat Trust charity We are facing unprecedented times. However, in villages and communities around the country people are showing true altruism and volunteering to help neighbours. Over 500k responded to the Government appeal. In my own village for example, each road has been assigned (by the PC) volunteer […]
Concerns about impact of rural Post Office closures forced by coronavirus
The East Anglian Daily Times reports on concerns that some rural communities could be left without post offices because of the coronavirus Despite Post Offices Ltd being last week listed by the Government as essential shops and therefore permitted to stay open, some branches are now closed and others operating with severely reduced opening hours […]
Calls for critical biomass supply chains to remain open to support frontline workers during crisis
Industry leaders are urging Government to keep UK wood fuel supply chains fully open to ensure suppliers can continue delivering to home heating customers and key frontline organisations and businesses already under immense pressure due to the Coronavirus outbreak. With hundreds of hospitals, health and social care facilities, supermarkets and many large-scale food producers already […]
Coronavirus check points established across the country
Several media outlets including the BBC report that road checkpoints are being set up around the country to determine if drivers’ journeys are essential The move is being introduced to ensure motorists are complying with government restrictions to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. In particular, drivers are being urged to steer clear of rural […]
