Village
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The challenges of COVID-19 for rural communities | David Drew
The last few months have been particularly difficult for rural communities as they have for the rest of the country. Obviously COVID has hit rural areas particularly hard but the issue has been made worse by this Government’s pursuit of a free trade deal with the US whatever the dire consequences. This has caused consternation…
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The Digital Village | Lord Jim Knight
A few weeks ago I was sat in the Home Room in the House of Lords having a conversation over dinner about the “digital village”. It is a classic wood-panelled room with a long wooden table set for dinner with white table linen, House of Lords crockery and plenty of wine glasses. There were…
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Sustainable Villages: Rural Housing for the Future
Having lived for much of my life in the Forest of Dean, a glorious forest and a group of small communities between the Severn and the Wye, I’m all too aware of the problems, and in some cases the opportunities, that present themselves on the issue of rural housing. As in most rural areas, we…
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Defra threatens to cut funding to rural action network
Just before Christmas on a cold, snowy day in Buxton I was one of the guest speakers at Rural Action Derbyshire’s AGM. I have known Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD), which is part of the ACRE network, and the excellent work it does in a number of incarnations over the years. Like me it maybe that…
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“You’re obviously just not trying…”: The harsh reality for Non-Urban Labour
We were discussing my chances of becoming a borough councillor at the 2015 local elections. ‘Surely,’ said my friend, ‘you just need to put the work in – knock on doors, put out leaflets – and then every seat is winnable? You’re obviously just not trying…’ He’s not had much to do with politics, bless…