We welcome Defra's announcement of £5.2 million new European funding to be split between the dairy industry and rural broadband infrastructure.

Posted on: 16th July 2009, 12:21PM

On behalf of the Social Exclusion Task Force at the Cabinet Office, we would like to inform you about the publication of the report ‘Working Together for Older People in Rural Areas’.

Posted on: 13th July 2009, 10:47AM

Ofcom have released maps showing 3G coverage across the country for the Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and 3 mobile networks. The maps show that while mobile network coverage in the UK is generally good, some problems persist, particularly in rural areas.

Posted on: 9th July 2009, 4:11PM

The UK Film Council has launched a new strategy to improve access to cinema for people in rural areas.

Posted on: 7th July 2009, 3:41PM

We've added some new 2009 service availability data to the website, combining datasets that show where outlets of particular services can be found with postcode level information on the distribution of households.

Posted on: 2nd July 2009, 3:53PM

We welcome the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) to incentivise local authorities to improve delivery of housing and other planning outcomes as part of their strategic, place shaping role and to provide more support to communities and local councils who are endeavouring to deliver new homes.

Posted on: 30th June 2009, 3:54PM

NALC have set up a Leadership Academy to help Mayors, Chairs and Councillors develop their skills - the only national course of its kind aimed specifically at the parish and town (local) council sector.

Posted on: 25th June 2009, 3:01PM

I have been asked to make the case for extending the powers of parish and town councils at a ‘Policy Slam’ session at the summer seminar being managed by the University of Gloucestershire and the Society of Local Council Clerks on 15 July.

Posted on: 18th June 2009, 11:56AM

Posted by: Crispin Moor

We supported this year's Annual Rural Entrepreneurship Conference focussing on Rural Enterprise in a Recession. The presentations for the event are now available to download from the conference website (click on 'Final programme' to download a word doc with links to each presentation)

Posted on: 17th June 2009, 2:49PM

ATOC's new report "Connecting Communities" looks at the viability of re-opening rail links to towns that lost their rail services in the 1960s. Most are small towns that have grown and where a rail link could substantially reduce traffic on major roads.

Posted on: 17th June 2009, 1:53PM