Archive for the ‘Rural Services Network’ Category
Spending review hits rural areas
When the day came it wasn’t all bad news – but the devil will be very much in the detail, which will become apparent over the following weeks and months.
Superfast broadband is to be piloted in four rural areas, and Sure Start funding is secure in cash terms.
And pensioners will benefit from the continuation of free bus passes, eye tests and prescription charge, as well as Winter Fuel Payments and cold weather premiums – which will be made permanent.
But as we feared, there are also some very big losers…
Rural Services Network – October 2010
Restrictions of rural broadband
Today’s technological age is creating opportunities for all of us – whether households, businesses or service providers. But if you live in a rural area, you and your community are increasingly missing out.
Here’s our roundup on rural broadband – its provision, impact and the government’s response.
Rural Services Network – March 2010
Delivering services in the snow
The big freeze is prompting councils to prioritise services.
Take roads – the essential way most of us get about, whether by car or bus.
Most councils have what is called a ‘precautionary network’, that they commit themselves to salting, and details of which they publish (grit is only used when supplies of salt are low).
But what proportion of the local road network this covers varies hugely.
Ruural Services Network – January 2010
Rising concern over rural traffic
RESEARCH often tells us what we already know, or suspect – although that does not stop it from being useful.
But sometimes it produces unexpected results.
Take this example.
Traffic was the most commonly issue of residents’ concern, according to an analysis of parish plans and market town health checks published in a new book, ‘Glimpses of Rural England’ by Malcolm Moseley (See Chapter 1).
Not affordable housing. Not the lack of public transport or other services. And not even the lack of provision for young people, which often gets a mention in such surveys.
Time to investigate, I decided.
Rural Services Network – November 2009
A new approach to market towns
HAVE we all been sleeping?
Or, more specifically, do we need an overhaul of the notion of ‘market towns’, and national policy towards them?
New research reveals that 11m people live in the 1600 towns that have a population of between 1,500-40,000 people (2001).
SOURCE: http://towns.org.uk/2009/05/28/new-research-on-types-of-towns/
This is equivalent to the population of Greater London and the West Midlands combined.
What is more, they are growing over twice as fast as larger settlements (5.3% growth between 2001-06) and accounted for 60% of the growth in population between 2001-06.
And yet it is rare for market towns to receive any policy focus – apart from the patchy and ad hoc Market Towns Initiatives, promoted by Regional Development Agencies.
Rural Services Network – July 2009
