Council Slammed Over Second Broadband Faliure (Heather Kidd)

Council Slammed Over Second Broadband Faliure

July 28, 2011 9:55 AM

Cllr Nigel Hartin, (Clun) Leader of the Lib Dems on Shropshire Council has slammed the Council for its failure to secure funding from Central Government to expand broadband provision in the County.

"This is the second occasion that they have failed to secure the necessary grants fromWestminsterto bringShropshireup the same standard as the rest of country.Shropshirerelies on its small and medium size enterprises it keep its economy healthy and they are currently operation under a major disadvantage in many parts of the county due to a poor broadband connection!"

Shropshireoriginally applied around a year ago to the government for a grant to upgrade the Broad Band provision throughout the rural parts of the county.Cornwallwas granted money to upgrade its whole system to sue fast broad band at that time.Shropshire's application was rejected. Now a second bid has been turned down.

Nigel asked Cllr Taylor Smith, the IT portfolio holder, in full council last week

"Can the Council now have reassurance that the new bid will be fit for purpose?"

He was told that 'good noises' were now coming from Government.

"What will we now end up with?" asked Nigel Hartin. "It may very well be a poor relation to that now being delivered in other rural counties like Cornwall. Our businesses and communities need the best to survive in these difficult times. I will be continuing to press the Administration to come clean about the status of this application and what standard of service we can expect if we are successful."