CommunitiesBritain’s countryside is characterised by its strong rural communities, and the Countryside Alliance is campaigning hard to ensure their future. Any number of issues threaten their survival, and we lobby to ensure that any legislation passed is countryside-friendly. In this section you can read about various topical issues of interest to rural communities from Policing to broadband, 4G, planning and affordable housing. |
Communities: Alliance welcomes fuel price-fixing investigationThursday, 16 May 2013 The Countryside Alliance welcomes the European investigation into market fixing in petrol prices. The claims made have serious implications on all motorists, particularly those in rural areas. “The cost of fuel has risen dramatically over the last 10 years and families in rural areas have to rely on their car to access essential services,” said Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner. Read more Polling shows rural voters feel sidelinedThursday, 16 May 2013 Countryside Alliance Executive Chairman Barney White-Spunner writes: Sixty-four per cent of people living in the countryside do not believe that the Coalition Government’s policies are helping rural Britain, research for the Countryside Alliance has shown. Nearly three quarters of them (73%) think politicians are more interested in the views and values of city dwellers, especially those living in London, rather than people in the countryside. Read more Universal postal service and rural post boxes saved!Thursday, 28 March 2013 Despite a fall in the amount of mail being sent, communications industry regulator Ofcom has this week announced it is extending protections against post boxes being removed. The regulator also voiced support for the universal postal service, something the Countryside Alliance is vocal in backing. The costs to the consumer of removing the universal postal service was something no one wanted to countenance and it is encouraging that it will stay in place. Read more Smartphone users – get active on rural mobile coverageTuesday, 29 January 2013 The Countryside Alliance is working with RootMetrics to help map mobile phone coverage in rural areas. For many it's an ongoing headache and we are determined to do something about that. Coverage must improve, and you can help us. Read on for more, and if you have a smartphone please download the app and gather data that will feed direct to the coverage map. Read more NatWest everywoman business awards now open to entriesThursday, 11 April 2013 The UK’s longest-running programme for championing female enterprise, the NatWest everywoman awards, is open to entries for 2013. These awards, in their eleventh year, differentiate themselves by recognising business success at every stage of maturity - from embryonic start-ups demonstrating promise to established enterprises that are making a significant contribution to the British economy. For the third year the Countryside Alliance is proud to support (and help judge) the rural category in the Awards. Read more Plunkett Foundation reports a record yearThursday, 11 April 2013 Good news this week: Plunkett Foundation has reported a record year, with 924 enquiries from communities keen to set up a co-operative enterprise whether a shop, pub or other project set up to be run by local people. Plunkett Foundation is the body that helps and supports community co-operatives and social enterprises in rural communities. Read more BBC Trust to review impartiality of rural coverageThursday, 28 March 2013 You will be interested to read this press release issued by the BBC Trust this week: "The impartiality of the BBC's coverage of rural areas of the UK is to be examined by the BBC Trust in a review announced this week. The review is the latest in a rolling programme of impartiality reviews looking at different aspects of the BBC's output, in line with the Trust's responsibility as set out in the Charter to 'do all it can' to ensure the impartiality of the BBC. Read moreCountryside Alliance Broadband BriefMonday, 18 March 2013 The Countryside Alliance briefed ahead of a debate on the House of Lords Communications Committee report into broadband. We welcome many of the recommendations put forward and are keen to see broadband, which is essential to rural communities, rolled out quickly for the good of rural communities and businesses. Read more 4G success is dependent on swift deliveryWednesday, 20 February 2013 As Ofcom announce the five winning bidders to deliver 4G in the UK the Countryside Alliance has called for a clear and swift schedule for delivery for rural areas amidst fears the city markets will be served first. One block of spectrum contains a 98% indoor coverage obligation*, which was won by Telefonica/O2, and this will be delivered by 2017. The promise is that almost the whole UK population will be able to receive 4G mobile services by the end of 2017 at the latest. Read more Minister writes exclusively for the AllianceThursday, 7 February 2013 Ed Vaizey MP, the Minister responsible for broadband, has written exclusively for the Countryside Alliance's magazine. You can read his piece in our Spring issue, which you can download here. Meanwhile, we bring you a taster of his article, in which the Minister writes about cutting red tape, reducing the cost of delivery and increasing Government investment in broadband. He writes: "Rural businesses in the future will be doing more online and consumer demand for faster speeds and more mobile data in rural communities will continue to increase. Read more |
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