Ensuring the survival of rural services

Posted in: Rural Issues / Ensuring the survival of rural services

In challenging economic periods, great pressure is exerted on local services in order to justify their existence. This project looks at the wider value of rural services play in their communities, and explores potential ways that they can save money or explore new opportunities to ensure that the bottom line cost does not become a barrier to their existence.

2 Articles

The Last Post
[, Sep 18, 2009]

In both urban and rural areas the closures of local Post Offices has provoked anguish in the local communities that rely on them. The government has argued that the shrinking of the post office network is inevitable as a result of lack of profitability. In this Policy Platform we explore three per

With a Little Help From Our Friends
[, Feb 19, 2009]

A review of our report on international local government, by Andrew Stevens of CityMayors.com

Related Local Government News Articles

10 Related Local Government News Articles

Post Office bank plan unveiled
[, Mar 29, 2010]

Extra funding of £180m has been pledged for a “major expansion” of financial services offered by the Post Office. The new money is on top of £1.7bn currently being invested in the 11,500 branches, with the aim of making them more sustainable.

Keep library reform local
[, Mar 23, 2010]

The future of libraries depends on the ability of councils to lead reform, rather than followng clauses and conditions decided by central government, the LGA has said

Why rural children are leaving
[, Mar 4, 2010]

The lack of mobile phone reception and broadband coverage in rural areas has become the No 1 issue in dissuading young people from staying on in the countryside, the chair of the Commission for Rural Communities has said.

Post office closure consultations 'a sham'
[, Feb 9, 2010]

The national consultation that led to the government's controversial post office closure programme was deeply flawed and so ineffective that it was regarded by many consumers as "a sham", a hard-hitting report will claim today.

Post Office closures a sham
[, Nov 12, 2009]

Labour railroaded the closure of 2,500 Post Offices with 'sham' consultations and 'a real lack of concern' for the impact on people's lives, a damning report from MPs will say today.

Struggle to get to post office
[, Oct 1, 2009]

As many as five million people struggle to get to their local Post Office, according to Government research. The report by the Department for Communities and Local Government found one in 10 households – had problems accessing their local branch.

Rural communities are crying out to be heard
[, Jul 8, 2009]

Quiet communities have become angered by a Government which won’t even listen, still less give them a say. Local services have been withdrawn, rural communities have been denied a voice, and power has been taken away from local people.

Rural post offices will be safeguarded
[, Jul 7, 2009]

Under the Conservative plans, the viability of post offices would be judged against new guidelines including determining whether they offer a social service to the elderly and young families. The new policy is part of a range of measures they will unveil as part of a strategy to deal with what they

Packaging is leading to higher council tax bills
[, Feb 17, 2009]

Excessive supermarket food packaging is undermining householders' efforts to recycle and adding to council tax bills, according to a new report

Gas guzzlers face more expensive parking
[, Jan 7, 2009]

Drivers of large “gas guzzling” cars face higher car park and meter charges under new council plans.

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