More Communities Offered Access to Super-fast Broadband

As more of Conservative-led West Lindsey District Council’s services being accessed online, such as paying for services and reporting issues – improving access to the internet is important.

The rural nature of the district means internet provision is sometimes patchy and limits resident’s access. Last year, the council teamed up with Quickline Communications to install wireless internet in thirty community buildings, known as hubs. Following the successful take up of the scheme, a new deal has been signed with the company to extend provision.

Conservative Deputy Leader of the West Lindsey, Cllr. Mrs. Anne Welburn said:

“Accessing services online is becoming more and more part of our everyday expectations. A lot of us already do internet banking and pay our bills online. Now we as a council want to put customers at the heart of our services and give access online for those customers that want to use it. Extending the wi-fi provision will reduce the number of ‘notspots’ and open up online services to more people.”

Mrs. Manjeet Gill, Chief Executive of the Council commented:

“We have been working to improve communications for our residents and I am delighted that the second phase of the scheme can now get underway.

“To compliment this we are also making improvements to our web site, including new electronic forms to make it quicker and easier for residents to access services online.”

Mr. Steve Jagger, Managing Director of Quickline said:

“Village halls provide a community hub of activity for rural communities and it is fantastic the council has invested additional funds to improve communications. I am delighted that we are able to offer wireless broadband which can reach locations that traditional telecoms are unable to reach.”

District Councillor for the Nettleham Ward, Cllr. Giles McNeill welcome the news saying:

“I know that in Nettleham, the Village Hall Committee are eager to access the benefits that this scheme should provide. Giving local residents high speed internet at a key community venue, like the Village Hall, can be an important step to ensure that our community is digitally inclusive.”

Other initiatives are being explored, and local businesses are urged to contact Steve Bolan on 01427 676551 for more information. For further information on Quickline, call 01482 247365 or visit www.quickline.co.uk.

Support Needed to Improve Broadband Internet Speeds and Coverage in West Lindsey

West Lindsey District Council is asking local people to back their campaign for Superfast broadband in Lincolnshire.

In the next few months Lincolnshire County Council will be starting on a £57 million project to provide Superfast Broadband in the county. It takes you less than 5 minutes to show your support for Superfast Broadband in the county by registering your interest on a website (register by clicking here). This could make a big difference to our campaign.

By supporting the campaign local residents will help the authority to convince commercial suppliers that there is sufficient demand for better broadband in Lincolnshire. The information provided will allow the council to identify the areas in the county that currently have good or bad services.

Next generation broadband could create next generation business

Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, has promised a Conservative Government will focus on ensuring the majority of the population have access to the next generation of high speed broadband networks within 5 years.

The Shadow Culture Secretary argued that next generation broadband offers a great commercial opportunity to the UK, because of the strength of our creative industries. He announced that the Conservative Party would be launching a wide-ranging review of the UK’s creative and creative knowledge industries this Spring in order to inform our thinking:

"There is no question about our talent for creating digital content, content that can be traded and exchanged in Bill Gates’ global village square. The question is whether we seize the opportunity presented by that talent to build the next generation of global businesses based on the new technology platforms that are emerging."

Giles meets with Jeremy Hunt in Lincoln, discussing various points including the knowledge economy.

Jeremy stressed that the key issue in the provision of next generation broadband is creating a framework which allows private sector investors to get the returns necessary to make the huge investment required.

"This means creating a regulatory environment that stimulates investment both by large incumbent players like BT, or where they are slow or unwilling to do so, by more nimble newcomers. To do this we should oversee wholesale deregulation of the current broadband infrastructure."

Giles McNeill said:

"This is exactly the right sort of proposal for an economy in recession, it not only makes sense for companies & business but for local people and communities."