A CUMBRIAN village that is on the verge of a bright new future has welcomed the news that superfast broadband is set to become available to the majority of its residents.
Towns and villages across Cumbria are being connected as part of a government initiative to ensure that 95 per cent of properties in the UK can access superfast broadband services by the end 2017.
Delivered by Connecting Cumbria, a partnership formed out of Cumbria County Council and BT, thousands of homes throughout the county are being upgraded and residents in Bootle are set to be the next batch of residents to benefit from the scheme.
Catherine Weldon, project manager for Connecting Cumbria, confirmed that some homes may already have access to superfast broadband but said it is an ongoing project that is set to make a real difference to homes and businesses in the area.
She said: "Superfast broadband can go up to 80mbs. Every property is different but as a rule of thumb we estimate that most properties connected within 1km of a fibre structure will get at least 24mbs.
"This is quite revolutionary for families particularly if you have two kids who want to do their own things (homework, on demand TV, online gaming) at the same time as you need to do your work.
"It's also great for businesses because with superfast fibre broadband you can support a microbusiness or small business office that might previously have need an expensive leased line on a normal connection."
The roll-out of superfast broadband is an ongoing project across the county, including Bootle, which maybe have some homes that are already connected and others which are due to follow soon.
As the village embarks on an ambitious scheme (Bootle 2020) to shape its future and attract new people to the area, the roll-out of superfast broadband is a major step in the right direction.
Trudy Harrison, project manager for Bootle 2020, said: "It's great for attracting young professionals as it will enable people to come and work from home.
"If you have the sort of job or lifestyle that needs fast internet connection then at the moment it's not great but it's all about creating the essential infrastructure to attract new people."
With internet fast becoming a necessity for the majority of the population, demands for a faster service are becoming increasingly important.
Mike Blackburn, North West director for BT who is rolling out the scheme alongside the county council, said: “Superfast broadband is now seen as an essential rather than a luxury. In areas such as the Lake District that are so dependent on tourism for the local economy, the internet is a must to show the world that they are open for business."
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