DEFRA responds to RSN letter on Rising Fuel Costs
The Rt Hon Lord Benyon at DEFRA has responded to a letter sent to the Department by the Rural Services Network highlighting concerns over the increase in global fuel costs and the particular impact on rural communities and local authorities. The letter from the RSN can be viewed at this link
Cost of living crisis: ‘People heating one room with firewood’
The cost of living crisis is hitting people hard, especially the rise in the price of fuel. For rural areas such as Norfolk, some people rely on their cars due to lack of public transport, and they may also need oil to heat their household water.
Sir Geoffrey Cox MP urges Prime Minister to back rural economy
Sir Geoffrey Cox MP has together with over 30 other MPs and Peers, written to the Prime Minister asking him to introduce a new White Paper to designed to promote the growth of the rural economy, following the recent publication of a major new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Rural Business and Rural Powerhouse
Rural mental health must be top of our agenda
An article written for PoliticsHome by Neil Hudson MP discusses the importance of rural mental health The article discusses how more than a third of farmers in the UK have admitted to being possibly or probably depressed according to an industry survey and the Farm Safety Foundation report that that one farmer a week in […]
News and Info from DEFRA
DEFRA have released their latest ‘Farming is Changing’ information which details how farmers and land managers will be rewarded for doing even more to improve the environment whilst producing high quality food and other products
Digital planning moves closer to reality
The digitisation of the planning process in England has moved a step closer with the recent publication of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which included several proposals that will support the shift to digital planning
A new Countryside Hub has been created to provide significant post-covid support for the most vulnerable in East and North Cornwall
As rural areas East and North Cornwall suffer from a lack of services for the most vulnerable, such as youth clubs for those with learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD); dementia activities outside of memory cafes; and befriending groups for those widowed with disabilities
British farmers advised to grasp export opportunities
the Government is negotiating new free trade agreements (FTA) at pace with major agri-producing countries, after NFU president Minette Batters urged British farmers to grow their businesses further through exporting
DfT awards £200 million to active travel projects across England
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that millions of people across England will be able to benefit from cleaner air and more affordable ways to travel and keep active, due to £200 million of Government funding for new walking and cycling schemes across the country
Hastoe Housing appoints new Chair of Board
Hastoe Housing Association, England’s largest rural social housing provider, has appointed Lindy Morgan as its new Chair of the Board. Effective from 12 May 2022, she will succeed Ed Buscall who has retired after 7 years as Chair and a total of 9 years as a Board member
