A study examined the impact of ageing populations on service design and delivery in rural areas in England. The final report said that rural areas faced a range of additional costs for service delivery that made it more difficult for service providers, including health services, to meet needs. It said that there was insufficient appropriate housing stock, and demand for more home-based care, support and adaptations.
Source: Caitlin Connors, Marita Kenrick, Anna Bloch, Sally-Marie Bamford, and Dylan Kneale, 2013 Rural Ageing Research: Summary report of findings, TNS BMRB
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Dec
The Scottish government began consultation on proposals to be included in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill. Proposals included: establishing new ways for communities to take on public sector land and buildings; greater community involvement in shaping and delivering local services; measures to extend the rural community right to buy; new community planning measures; and new powers for local authorities to create local business rate relief schemes. The consultation would close on 24 January 2014.
Source: Consultation on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2013-Nov
A report provided an overview of the 2011 Census results for rural England. It reported data on: household composition and dwelling types; household deprivation; ethnicity; religion; health; car availability; economic activity; qualifications; and occupation and industry.
Source: 2011 Census Results for Rural England, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Nov
The High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill was published. The Bill was designed to provide the government with the powers required to construct Phase One of a proposed high speed rail network, known as 'High Speed 2', or 'HS2'. Phase One would involve the construction of new railway lines between London and the West Midlands.
Source: High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill, Department for Transport, TSO
Links: Bill Volume I | Bill Volume II | Explanatory notes | DT press release | CBI press release | CPRE press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article said that there was 'very little' empirical evidence that social disorganization was positively associated with crime rates in rural areas.
Source: Maria Kaylen and William Alex Pridemore, 'Social disorganization and crime in rural communities: the first direct test of the systemic model', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 53 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
A report by a committee of MPs said that there was a growing urban-rural divide in access to services in England. Disparities in local council and school funding exacerbated a 'rural penalty' facing communities.
Source: Rural Communities, Sixth Report (Session 2013-14), HC 602, House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Additional written evidence | Committee press release | ACRE press release | SERC blog post | BBC report | Daily Mail report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report | Public Finance report | RSN Online report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Jul