£1m funding earmarked to take superfast broadband to Lincolnshire district

Chairman of Skegness Chamber of Commerce Glenis Brown was delighted with the news that East Lindsey District Council has earmarked £1 million towards a countywide project that will improve broadband provision for homes and businesses.

In January, the Government announced it would support a plan by Lincolnshire County Council to bring next generation broadband to Lincolnshire, which would see 90 per cent of properties receiving superfast broadband connection speeds of at last 24Mb/second by 2015, with the rest guaranteed at least 2Mb/per second.

The project, which will cost around £57m to deliver, is subject to a detailed funding package involving private sector organisations, with district councils being asked to put forward £4m and LCC £10m.

Mrs Brown said: "This is absolutely so important, we are suffering already. We spend much longer trying to do things than we should do and it stands a good chance of attracting more businesses here.

"We are not so well placed for manufacturing companies but companies that can work by email are absolutely essential. We might be able to attract some of those sort of business with better broadband.

"It's just important that it covers the whole of East Lindsey. In places such as Alford it is really poor."

As well as having the largest percentage of homes and businesses without access to fixed line broadband internet in Lincolnshire, East Lindsey also experiences some of the slowest broadband speeds in the county.

Portfolio holder for the economy, Councillor Craig Leyland, said: "The benefits of this project are highly significant for East Lindsey's economy. Improved internet connection speeds will enhance the district as a place to live and work, providing a huge boost for businesses who will be able to improve their competitiveness, develop new markets and create new jobs."

Superfast broadband is a current priority for the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Chairman Ursula Lidbetter, added: "We know from talking to businesses just how important reliable, high speed broadband is to their success.

"I'm pleased that East Lindsey District Council has agreed to put this money into what is an important project for the area."