Funding for faster rural broadbandis approved

Warwickshire County Council will contribute £3 million towards funding required to match more than £4 million available for the sub-region from Broadband Delivery UK, the Government body overseeing the roll-out of superfast broadband.

The authority’s cabinet committee also committed £500,000 towards running the project. The balance will be provided by Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and the five districts and borough councils in Warwickshire.

A draft plan was submitted to BDUK last week outlining current broadband provision and the sub-regional approach to improving broadband speeds.

Cllr Alan Cockburn, responsible for sustainable communities, said: “Superfast broadband is an absolutely essential technology for our rural communities and they desperately need a service that is fit for the future.”

The county council is urging residents and businesses to register their demand for faster broadband and is recruiting ‘champions’ to promote the project in villages. Email [email protected] or call 412984.