Superfast broadband to reach out to rural communities
More than 2,200 rural homes and businesses to the east of Lancaster can look forward to enjoying superfast broadband having been chosen to pilot a project which will bring it to the most rural parts of Lancashire.
Those living and working in the parishes of Arkholme, Melling, Wennington, Wray, Quernmore, Wyresdale and Caton are set to benefit from a broader project being led by Lancashire County Council which aims to bring superfast broadband to 97% of the county by 2014 at speeds in excess of 30mbps.
The roll-out will see significant public sector investment in the project, to ensure that superfast broadband reaches those areas – approximately one third of Lancashire - that would be unlikely to receive the service in the near future if it was left to the private sector alone.
The scheme will work with local communities and Lancashire County Council's delivery partner on innovative approaches, including setting up a £500,000 community fund aimed at working with communities to get superfast broadband to those few remote properties – about 3% of the total - not reached under the main scheme.
The rural area to the east of Lancaster has been designated as the first pilot for these ideas in Lancashire. The council aim to deploy superfast broadband in excess of 30mbps to around 70% of premises in the pilot areas as part of the county wide deployment and then work with the communities on extending this even further.
Internet users living in these parishes will be able to choose from a range of internet service providers once superfast broadband is available.
Coun Janice Hanson, Cabinet member with responsibility for Economic Regeneration, said: “Lancaster City Council firmly believes in the need to ensure that rural settlements are able to access high speed broadband internet. The establishing of an efficient network in these areas will provide our rural communities with the same benefits as other residents in terms of communication, employment and business development to name but a few."
Date Published: 06/02/12