*Weekly Rural Focus
6 November 2009
*
*Latest news:*
Rural shoppers reliant on internet <#LETTER.BLOCK47>
Rural broadband tax under fire <#LETTER.BLOCK44>
Tories to unveil rural homes plan <#LETTER.BLOCK46>
Film showcases transport schemes <#LETTER.BLOCK48>
Tories pledge new rural approach <#LETTER.BLOCK50>
Rural shoppers reliant on internet
VILLAGE shop closures are forcing rural residents to turn to internet
shopping, says a report.
More than four in 10 (42%) adults living in rural Britain are shopping
online more than they did last year, reveals the study.
Some 94% of people in the countryside now shop online, according to the
report by the Future Laboratory.
Read more...
Broadband tax plan under fire
A TAX on phonelines to fund faster rural broadband is doomed to failure,
claims Britain's biggest internet service provider.
At least 100,000 homes will be forced to give up their broadband under
plans to add 50p each month to all landline phone bills, said TalkTalk.
Poorer households would be unable to afford superfast broadband
services, suggested Charles Dunstone, the firm's chief executive.
Read more...
Tories to unveil rural homes plan
TORY plans will give local communities the power to grant planning
permission to build affordable rural housing.
Planning controls proposed by the Conservatives would give local
residents the right to decide if they want villages to expand.
The controls would apply to residents in areas dominated by second
homeowners.
Read more...
Film showcases rural transport schemes
LOCAL authorities are being urged to use integrated transport to link
rural communities with nearby towns.
Declining bus services had lead to increased isolation for rural
residents, said the Commission for Rural Communities.
It has produced a film with Lincolnshire County Council to show how
integrated public transport can improve life for rural people.
Read more...
Tories pledge new rural approach
THE Tories have called for a holistic approach to deal with the
challenges posed by rural development.
Shadow rural affairs secretary Nick Herbert said a Conservative
government would abolish regional building targets.
This would end the interference of top-down government by helping to
restore decision-making about planning to local communities.
Read more...
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