Access to services
14 Jan 2025
Ensuring NHS Reforms Meet the Unique Needs of Rural Communities
In light of recent NHS announcements, the government has introduced ambitious reforms aimed at reducing the elective care backlog and enhancing patient access to services. These initiatives hold the promise...
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14 Jan 2025
Addressing Rural Connectivity: Challenges and Progress
The plight of poor digital connectivity in rural UK remains a significant barrier for over half a million businesses, as detailed in a recent article published by Countryside Alliance. These...
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06 Jan 2025
New Legislation to Enhance Local Control Over Bus Services Introduced
The recent introduction of the Bus Services Bill marks a significant legislative milestone aimed at revitalising public transportation across the country. The bill, which grants enhanced powers to local authorities,...
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20 Dec 2024
Rural Financial Crisis Deepens: RSN Analysis Exposes Stark Funding Inequities in Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement
The Rural Services Network (RSN) has conducted an initial analysis of the recent Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and is deeply concerned about the implications for England’s rural communities. While...
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17 Dec 2024
Devolution White Paper
The Government has published the Devolution White Paper which sets out their vision and plans for devolving power across the nation. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has vowed to make...
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16 Dec 2024
NPPF published
The Government has published its full response to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation. The Government received over 10,000 responses to the consultation, and the document published last week...
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16 Dec 2024
How can the UK meet 5G ambitions?
A “new deal for 5G” is needed to tackle the causes of the 5G infrastructure investment gap, and catapult the UK to the global frontier for 5G connectivity, according to...
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10 Dec 2024
Milestones for change, for rural?
The Prime Minister Kier Starmer last week unveiled his Plan for Change, setting out ‘ambitious but achievable milestones they aim to meet by the end of this Parliament.’ The missions...
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09 Dec 2024
UK Space Agency Launches Satellite Connectivity Projects for England’s Remote Areas
In an ambitious move to enhance digital connectivity in some of England’s most isolated regions, the UK Space Agency, in collaboration with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT),...
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09 Dec 2024
Rural coverage is improving, but still lags behind
Ofcom has last week published the Connected Nations report for 2024. This report measures progress on the availability of broadband and mobile services across England and the UK. This includes...
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