Future of Rural Areas

The RSN is challenging often overlooked rural threats such as chronic underfunding, changes in population and diminishing resources.

Hot Topics

30 Jul 2019

Boris Johnson’s stance on rural issues

Farming UK has outlined Boris Johnson’s stance on rural issues following his appointment as prime minister In an interview with the Countryside Alliance, he pledged to make more funds available...

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30 Jul 2019

Tories no longer the party of rural life, says Corbyn

The Telegraph covers comments made by the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, in which he claimed that the Conservatives are no longer the party of rural communities Corbyn, speaking last week...

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30 Jul 2019

Bank branch black spots in England’s most deprived areas

PA Media reports on new research published by banking app Pockit, which found that banks are closing branches in poorer areas of England at a faster rate than in wealthier...

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22 Jul 2019

Domestic abuse in rural areas

The National Rural Crime Network has last week launched the results of an 18 month intensive research project on domestic abuse in rural areas, ‘Captive and Controlled’.  It revealed a...

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22 Jul 2019

Rural neglect is being ignored

Rural Services Network chief executive Graham Biggs coordinated a letter which was published last week in The Times. It expresses disappointment that the Government rejected the Lords Rural Economy Committee’s...

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22 Jul 2019

Small schools halve since 1980

The Guardian and The Times report that the number of small schools in England has halved since 1980 Small schools in rural and village environments are twice as likely to...

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22 Jul 2019

Our future in the land

The Independent Food, Farming & Countryside Commission hosted by the RSA in its report launched on Tuesday 16th July ‘Our Future in the Land’ has added its voice to the...

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15 Jul 2019

Government won’t force banks to keep branches open

The Financial Times reports that the Government has refused to intervene to protect banking services in rural areas, despite recommendations from the Treasury Committee. In May, the Committee called for...

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15 Jul 2019

Community broadband schemes praised

The ‘ingenuity’ of community broadband schemes has been praised by the Financial Times. The article explains that many regions around Britain are ‘too sparsely populated to justify the cost that...

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08 Jul 2019

Millions in rural areas could be ‘left behind’

The Local Government Association published a report last week highlighting concerns that ‘millions of people living in rural England are at risk of being ‘left behind’ and missing out on...

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