Councillor hails broadband boost

A £10,640,000 boost for rural broadband in East Sussex has been welcomed by local campaigner Pam Doodes, Wealden district councillor for Ninfield, Hooe and Wartling.

The slice of a £363 million fund coming to East Sussex was announced last week by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to help people living in the countryside gain fast, affordable broadband.

Cllr Doodes said: “At Wealden we recognise the importance of universal broadband coverage and will lobby hard to make sure the whole of the district receives coverage of a workable speed.

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“Variable and slower speed coverage may be acceptable, but not ideal, for some households, but here in a predominantly rural area we rely on the many small businesses and the self-employed who work from home for the prosperity of the district.

“To enable them to compete nationally and globally the next generation/super-fast broadband is not a ‘wish to have’ but an essential tool.”

Cllr Doodes is urging as many people as possible to contact her with details of slow or non-existent broadband, plus the nature of their business, in order to build up a case for raising the district’s place in the broadband pecking order.

She can be reached on 01424 892329 or via e-mail at: [email protected]

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Rural watchdog, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has also welcomed the minister’s funding announcement, and South East Regional Director Rupert Ashby said: “The aim now will be to ensure the money is spent wisely, and making those with no access to fixed line broadband a priority. Individuals need to lobby their local authorities and local enterprise partnerships to demonstrate the demand.”