Services
25 Nov 2016
Rural areas ‘left behind on broadband’
THE government is doing too little to improve rural internet speeds, say community and business leaders. The warning follows the government’s Autumn Statement, which included £1 billion to invest in...
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17 Nov 2016
Consultation launched on Post Office services
RURAL stakeholders are being urged to respond to a consultation on Post Office services and accessibility. Launched by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the consultation aims to...
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14 Nov 2016
Bus cuts leave communities isolated
RURAL communities are being left isolated because councils have been forced to reduce bus services, new figures reveal. Local authorities have been forced to reduce bus services by more than...
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11 Nov 2016
Plan to withdraw red phone boxes
RURAL communities are being urged to adopt their local red phone box – or face the possibility of its removal. Out of 46,000 working public payphone kiosks on the streets...
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10 Nov 2016
Broadband still slower than advertised
Broadband users are still receiving internet speeds much slower than those advertised, an investigation has revealed. Almost half (45%) of 18-34 year olds have complained to their internet provider about...
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07 Nov 2016
Wi-fi scheme launched for village halls
A NEW scheme lets rural residents access superfast broadband via a hub installed in their local village hall. Superfast Essex is the county’s broadband improvement programme which is working to...
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04 Nov 2016
Rural fears over online tax information
RURAL business owners fear they could be “unfairly punished” if they are made to submit tax information online. Concern about the government’s plan to digitise all tax-related accounting from 2018...
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02 Nov 2016
New-style rural bus service piloted
Derbyshire has become the latest county to consider introducing a demand-responsive bus service for rural residents. The new type of rural bus service will go on trial early next year...
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30 Oct 2016
Rural ‘notspots’ unacceptable – MPs
More than one in four rural areas suffer from a poor or non-existent mobile phone signal, says a cross-party group of MPs. Coverage is so bad that visitors from overseas...
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28 Oct 2016
Police commissioners step up rural crime fight
FOUR police and crime commissioners have come together to step up the fight against rural crime. The four commissioners – from Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire – signed a Rural...
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