Archived News January 2003 More money for rural buses Jan 31st New bus schemes to improve public transport in rural areas across England will receive £20m from the government. Farm incomes rise for second year Jan 31st Farm incomes rose by 15 per cent last year - more than previously forecast - according to latest statistics. Figures released today estimate total farming income in the UK at £2.36 billion in 2002, compared to £2.07 billion in 2001. Timelord's story gets a Cornish twist Jan 31st A Cornish village is the setting for a new Doctor Who story, to be released at the end of February. Rural 'taxibus' services boosted Jan 31st A scheme to provide "taxibus" services to rural areas of West Yorkshire is awarded £870,000 of government funding. Firms view broadband dilemnas Jan 31st The future is broadband but for many rural homes and firms in Wales, even the thought of getting connected is a long way off. Millions face 'biggest' council tax bill Jan 30th Millions of people face the biggest rise in council tax bills since the tax was introduced ten years ago. Bitter pill for rural pharmacies Jan 30th The recommendation to scrap restrictions on chemist shops will lead to a further erosion of services to isolated areas, with small rural pharmacies finding it difficult to compete, according to rural and pharmaceutical organisations. Volunteering for wildlife Jan 30th An innovative new project, which aims to involve all sections of society in dormouse counting, hedge-laying and wildlife gardening, officially begins this week. Review of local elections Jan 29th Plans to encourage people to vote could include changes to the timing of local elections. A review will also look at the length of time councillors serve. Council tax rise fear with revaluation Jan 29th The council tax system in Wales faces a major shake-up under Welsh Assembly Government plans to revalue properties across the country Badger scheme sees results Jan 29th An initiative where landowners keep an eye on badger setts could be cutting all types of rural crime, say police. Farmers angry over late payments Jan 29th A leading farming union calls on the rural development minister to resign over millions of pounds worth of delayed payments. BNP targets asylum villagers Jan 28th The British National Party has targetted villagers campaigning against an asylum centre being built near their homes in Lincolnshire. Appeal to save island hedgehogs Jan 27th The Scottish Parliament is to hear an appeal from conservationists who want to protect 5,000 hedgehogs threatened with extermination. Report exposes rural race problem Jan 26th People from ethnic minorities are 10 times more likely to suffer a hate crime in the countryside than in a town, a new report has revealed. Developer proposes retirement village Jan 25th A developer in north Devon is proposing to build a new self-contained retirement village on the outskirts of Barnstaple. What will land reform mean for Scotland? Jan 24th A radical reform of land ownership north of the border is passed by MSPs, but what will it do to rural Scotland? Evolve or Die, Experts Tell the Farming Industry Jan 24th Farmers are told to look at ways to innovate their produce as the Government expands funding for diversification projects GREENFIELD HOUSING THREAT CONTINUES UNABATED Jan 23rd Proposals for greenfield housing development that could cover an area of countryside bigger than Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton combined - more than 431 square kilometres (166 square miles) - are contained in local authority plans. Forging links between town and country Jan 22nd Now is the time to make major and long-term improvements to the urban-rural fringe. Welsh people priced out of their own villages Jan 22nd Rich Londoners looking for second homes are destroying the Welsh language, protesters say Villagers act to fight turbines Jan 22nd Proposals to put up a series of wind turbines "taller than Lincoln Cathedral" on sites north of the city has spurred villagers to join together to form an action group in Welton. Village celebrates planning victory Jan 22nd Almost 600 residents in Tockwith a North Yorkshire village have won a fight to halt a waste recycling depot near their homes. Charles attacks farming red tape Jan 21st The Prince of Wales has rounded on government bureaucracy for threatening the "delicate tapestry" of the countryside. Crofters prepare for revolution on the estates Jan 20th The Land Reform Bill is designed to abolish the old system and replace it with a more straight-forward form of ownership, giving small communities and individual crofters the right to own the land they live and work on. Farm virus laws 'to be relaxed' Jan 20th The regulations, brought in following foot-and-mouth disease, are expected to be reduced to six days. Rural transport scheme extended Jan 19th The Fare Car Service is being extended to the South Hams after proving successful in other parts of Devon. Bill would ban fox hunting for sport Jan 18th The government's hunting bill was significantly toughened by Labour MPs yesterday when they voted that hunts will only be allowed if they are needed to control pests. Stressed southerners cash in on Cumbria Jan 17th Over-stressed southerners are cashing in their homes and buying rural post offices and corner shops in Cumbria. Red letter day for Devon village Jan 17th Broadhempston near Totnes, a Devon village, is bucking the recent trend of post office closures in rural areas - its branch actually re-opened on Thursday after 3 years closure. Hunting ban 'in breach of human rights' Jan 16th Two hunt enthusiasts began a legal challenge yesterday against the ban on fox hunting, claiming their human rights had been breached. Can GM Crops Help Wildlife? Jan 16th New research claims a strain of GM sugar beet can help nurture dwindling numbers of farmland birds, such as skylarks, lapwings and partridges. Farmers fear outcome - whoever wins Jan 15th Supermarket suppliers are watching nervously as the battle for Safeway is fought out - but whoever wins, few producers think it will do them any good New Railways bill should improve safety on rural roads as well as railways Jan 15th last year the number of people killed on rural roads actually increased, despite Government targets to reduce casualties Green grants for renewable energy schemes Jan 15th A £10 million campaign will encourage homeowners, schools and communities across the UK to take the initiative in developing and installing their own renewable energy schemes. UK 'faces abandoned car mountain' Jan 14th Environmental campaigners are warning the government could have a mountain of abandoned cars on its hands if it forces motorists to foot the bill for a new EU law. Searching for a Domesday village Jan 14th Archaeologists have been invited onto a farm in Yorkshire to investigate earthworks, which may belong to a “lost” village. Villagers vote on postal change Jan 13th The former test cricket umpire Dickie Bird has given his backing to a campaign to change a Royal Mail address which leaves off the name of his Yorkshire village .. Staincross, near Barnsley Rebranding the countryside Jan 12th Tourism leaders hope that £35,000 spent on rebranding the image of the Lake District will help entice overseas visitors back to an area badly hit by foot and mouth. Vampire Bats Help Stroke Victims Jan 12th The vampire bat, more commonly associated with Dracula and horror stories, secretes a saliva which can help patients in the critical hours following a stroke, according to US scientists. Urban village plan for refinery site Jan 11th The project to reclaim the land that lay beneath the former smokestacks of Llandarcy, near Neath claims to be the most ambitious redevelopment of its kind in Europe. £10m boost for rural communities Jan 10th Rural communities in East Cleveland could receive a cash injection of £10m over the next five years. Charles takes bus ride Jan 10th Prince Charles goes on a bus ride to look at rural regeneration on a visit to Lancashire. Public Sector Pilot to Buy Local Jan 9th Margaret Beckett has shown her support for Prince Charles' plea to supply public institutions with local produce, by launching pilot schemes to link farms to local hospitals, schools and prisons Car club plan to get Cornwall moving Jan 8th A charity looks at setting up Cornwall's first official car club to help overcome problems with transport links and isolation in rural areas. Village hall attracts Princess Royal Jan 8th Hundreds of people gather to see the Princess Royal cut the ribbon on a Monmouthshire village hall rebuilt after a six-year campaign. Swans leave villagers in the dark Jan 7th Swans flying in to roost on flooded fields are being blamed for power cuts in a Cambridgeshire village. Artificial Reef to Rebuild Fish Stocks Jan 7th Scientists have developed an underwater reef made of concrete blocks off the coast of Argyll to research the potential for commercial fishing. Licensing laws could call time on a rural facility Jan 6th The people who run village halls say proposed new licensing laws could be the final nail in the coffin of their current funding crisis. Steeped in tradition and coated in straw Jan 6th A Straw Bear will be paraded around the Cambridgeshire town of Whittlesey on Saturday as an ancient tradition is re-enacted. Villagers call for flood action Jan 6th People living in a West Cornwall village are to meet to find ways to stop their homes being flooded again Organic Fairtrade Pilot Project Begins Jan 5th Consumers looking to buy ethically sourced 'fairtrade' products, which are also organic, will enjoy a year-long pilot project launched today to see if the two certificates can be successfully married. Public trained to use police speed guns Jan 5th Members of the public are to receive speed guns to help enforce limits in their own communities. Villagers call for affordable housing Jan 4th People in Bridford on Dartmoor are objecting to a planned housing development saying it should include more low-cost homes. Villagers blame farmers for floods Jan 4th Farmers agree to help prevent flooding in a Crowlas near Penzance hit eight times since November. Majority support hunting compromise - poll Jan 3rd A majority of people support the compromise solution to the row over hunting and want to see the practice continue under regulation, a new survey shows. Village siege ends peacefully Jan 2nd One man is in police custody and two children are safe after a 19-hour siege in a Norfolk village