Latest News
06 Jul 2020
Your Post-Brexit Rural Future – A survey from the NFYFC
The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) want to ensure that young people who live, study or work in rural areas are given an opportunity to share key concerns about...
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06 Jul 2020
Promotion of the priority services register to vulnerable people
As part of the Utility Networks Partnership South East Water have created a joint video promoting the Priority Services Register (PSR) Working together with 11 other water, gas and electricity...
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06 Jul 2020
PM’s pledge to simplify planning system welcomed by rural sector
Farming UK and The Guardian have covered the reaction from the rural sector to Boris Johnson’s plans to simplify the planning system as a way to kick start the post-COVID-19...
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06 Jul 2020
Rural broadband and mobile phone coverage boost ahead of ‘staycation summer’
The Daily Mail reports that O2 is working to eradicate mobile signal rural ‘not-spots’ by extending 4G coverage in 91,000 areas across the UK – including 400 tourist destinations O2...
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29 Jun 2020
Rural areas demand support to tackle climate change
A group of rural council leaders has launched a new network to promote the voice of the countryside in the climate change debate. In a letter published on the 24th...
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29 Jun 2020
Lockdown drives demand for rural property
The Telegraph has published several articles showing a renewed interest from buyers searching for small farms, smallholdings or rural properties since lockdown began Thousands of ‘panic movers’ are quitting cities...
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29 Jun 2020
Affordable decarbonisation of rural businesses and industries
Both Politics Home and The Parliament Magazine have this week published articles arguing that in a post-COVID economy, with both taxpayer and household finances hard hit, it is ‘vital’ all...
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29 Jun 2020
VAT payment holiday ends 30th June, rural firms reminded
Farming UK reports that rural businesses are being reminded that the VAT payment holiday – which ran from 21st March because of the COVID-19 crisis – ends on 30th June...
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29 Jun 2020
Defra food vulnerability update
Below is is this week’s update on Defra’s work on food for vulnerable people: This week we are: Continuing the work of transitioning those receiving food boxes to alternative arrangements....
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24 Jun 2020
Issues raised at the 19th June meeting of the Rural Impacts Stakeholder Forum (RISF)
The Rural Impacts Stakeholder Forum (RISF) was established in March 2020 to enable open and regular dialogue between key rural stakeholder organisations and Defra on the impact of COVID-19 on...
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