Barriers to Access

The RSN campaigns to help rural residents overcome multiple access barriers to key services which includes poor transport and broadband.

Hot Topics

31 Mar 2017

Ofcom seeks broadband investment

Ofcom has announced measures it says will promote investment in new fibre broadband networks. The telecoms watchdog says it wants to protect broadband customers and promote competition, by cutting the...

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27 Mar 2017

The Buses Bill: What’s in it for rural services?

The Buses Bill must deliver for rural communities, says Claire Walters. Set for royal assent in May this year, the Buses Bill is being widely heralded as an opportunity to...

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27 Mar 2017

Rural businesses lack reliable broadband

Rural businesses are twice as likely to have inadequate internet connections as those in cities, says a study. Companies say they lack reliable broadband connections, despite ranking fully functional broadband...

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23 Mar 2017

Councils highlight importance of services

Representatives from England’s 10,000 parish and town aim to raise their profile by marching on parliament. The third ever ‘Lobby Day’ by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) will see...

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15 Mar 2017

Funds for Dorset rural transport

GRANTS of up to £5000 are on offer to communities who want to set up their own rural transport scheme in Dorset. The Community Transport Grant will fund costs associated...

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13 Mar 2017

Warning over ‘transport desert’ bus cuts

Bus services have been hit hard by funding cuts with over 500 routes completely withdrawn or reduced in 2016/17. Nearly £30m has been cut from local authority supported bus funding...

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10 Mar 2017

Council maintains rural broadband pledge

ONE of England’s biggest rural counties says 90% of premises will have access to superfast broadband by this summer. North Yorkshire County Council says it is pressing ahead with its...

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24 Feb 2017

More action needed on rural housing

Further action is neeeded to ensure that the government’s Housing White Paper delivers for rural areas, an expert has warned. Jo Lavis, of Rural Housing Solutions, says the general thrust...

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20 Feb 2017

Services face cuts despite council tax rise

VITAL local services face further cuts – despite forthcoming rises in council tax. Council tax rises in 2017/18 will not bring in enough money to prevent further deep cuts to...

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10 Feb 2017

Extra £2.5m to improve rural roads

An additional £2m is to be invested to improve the surface of rural roads in Devon. The extra funding was announced by Devon County Council alongside an additional £500,000 for...

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