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| Government gives green light for major Devon and Somerset super-fast broadband investment |
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Hundreds of thousands of businesses and communities across Devon and Somerset are set to benefit after the Government today gave the green light for a multi-million pound public and private sector investment in super-fast broadband. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced that the Government was backing a joint bid led by Devon and Somerset County Councils to help the rollout of superfast broadband across rural areas. Devon and Somerset are to receive a £30m share of £50m funding, which was allocated today. The other successful bids are from Wiltshire and Norfolk. In his announcement Mr Hunt said: “Broadband is becoming just as essential to homes and businesses as electricity and telephone lines and it is now only a matter of time before people in these three new rural areas have access to the connection speeds more commonly associated with towns and cities. “This is great news for people in Devon and Somerset, Wiltshire and Norfolk, but other councils will soon have the chance to bid for a nationwide funding programme. This is part of our plan for virtually every community in the UK to have access to superfast broadband." The Devon and Somerset bid, with support from Plymouth, North Somerset and Torbay Councils, was one of only three to get the go ahead from the government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) Unit. The move was welcomed by business leaders who praised the lead given by the local authorities and said the investment would deliver a £750 million boost to the local economy and could create 50,000 new jobs in across Devon and Somerset. Local government politicians said Government backing means the Councils can press ahead with plans for a massive investment programme, likely to be in the region of £100 million. A super-fast broadband network from Plymouth to Weston-super-Mare will benefit 836,000 businesses and residents. The Councils have pledged a £22 million investment towards the project. The Council partners confirmed they are seeking European funding and expect the project to attract significant private sector investment. The Councils say that with the support of Government investment they will undertake an open and competitive procurement process to secure the best broadband solution or solutions that will meet the needs of Devon and Somerset. Will Mumford, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “Government funding, along with our own resources will help us secure the private finance we need to begin a massive investment programme. It will create jobs, transform the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. “Superfast broadband for rural businesses will give them a level playing field with our urban counterparts. This has been a huge team effort. There has been fantastic all-party political support from our MPs and great backing from our Local Enterprise Partnership who made this their number one priority. We’ve got a lot more to do in terms of securing European funding and private sector investment, but this is the flying start we wanted.” David Hall, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development at Somerset County Council said: “This is great news and a measure of how important the Government sees broadband for Somerset and Devon. Our network will be vital in ensuring everyone in the South West from Bristol to The Isles of Scilly can access superfast broadband, whether in town or country. “The bid was the result of a lot of hard work and recognising that by working together we could achieve a far greater outcome for our communities and our businesses. We are delighted that BDUK has acknowledged the quality of our partnership and our proposals, and we want to thank everyone who has contributed to making this bid a success. “Our plan is to make sure that everyone has access to basic broadband by 2015, with at least 85% of premises having access to superfast broadband speeds and 100% by 2020.” Jeremy Filmer-Bennett, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership steering group, said: “This is excellent news from the Government and just what businesses throughout Devon and Somerset want to hear. Getting super-fast broadband is undoubtedly the top priority for our businesses and rolling out a high speed network is likely to boost productivity by around £750 million and create up to 50,000 jobs over the next few years. “We have had great support from our MPs and MEPs and our local government politicians have done a terrific job in responding to the needs of the business community and leading on this. It has very quickly demonstrated the importance of local enterprise partnerships.” It is particulalry important that Devon and Somerset secure superfast broadband as the problems experienced by Trinity Ward residents are mirrored in many other areas of the two counties: • Over 75,000 businesses and households have no or very slow access. • It is a brake on growth and investment in the heart of the South West. • Our most deprived areas are also the ones with the worst connectivity. Economic Outcomes • Faster broadband for 836,000 businesses and residents. Everyone will have at least 2Mbps and 85% will have at least 20Mbps by 2015 • Delivery will raise GVA by an estimated £750m by 2020 across Devon and Somerset • Faster broadband across the whole South West from Bristol to the Scillies, delivers Government’s aim to create the best network in Europe. • A stronger economy with more private sector jobs and investment, including attracting inward investment and developing supply chains. • Increased revenue from private sector growth, through businesses accessing new markets, increasing their supply base, trading globally and up-skilling their workforce • Reduced dependency on public sector jobs, redressing the national economy. We have more than a third of our workforce employed in the public sector. • Supporting micro and small businesses comply with regulations such as completing VAT returns online. Public Service Transformation • Faster and more efficient public services, encouraging effective home working, accessing services online and equipping residents with the appropriate skills and motivation to do so • Supporting the delivery of health and education services more efficiently and effectively in rural and sparsely populated areas, increasing opportunities and choice for all our residents EDDC Councillor Ian Thomas commented "As the newly appointed EDDC Cabinet member responsible for Rural Broadband, the major success of a joint bid by Devon and Somerset could not have come at a better time for East Devon. There are significant areas of our district which have little or no broadband service. A major improvement in our rural broadband service is fundamantal to the economic and environmental future of our area. New EDDC Rural Broadband Champion, Cllr Phil Skinner and the rest of the EDDC team look forward to working with DCC and local groups to ensure that the rural areas of East Devon receive the best possible service - as soon as possible." Share this post
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 27 June 2011 12:36 ) |
I am pleased to be able to confirm that the Government has announced the next wave of funding from BDUK to bring UK broadband to world standard.