Last updated at 19:19, Sunday, 16 September 2012

BROADBAND campaigners in South Copeland have called for BT to include the area in its plans to roll out superfast connection speeds after winning the contract to serve Cumbria.

Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet agreed a £40m contract with the communications giants on Thursday.

The decision brings to an end almost two years of deliberations and negotiations over how best to use a government broadband subsidy awarded to the county in October 2010.

Brian Crawford, broadband hub coordinator for South Copeland, welcomed the news, but stressed the importance of including Millom and the surrounding areas in the scheme. He said: “I’m pleased that this step has been taken and that there is further progress being made.

“But I still feel that Millom and South Copeland has been left out,

until we hear further.

“We’re just waiting to hear what the implications are for SouthCopeland, as opposed to places like Whitehaven, Barrow and Kendal.

“I keep hearing those communities being mentioned but never South Copeland.

“It seems to imply that it will cover 93 per cent of Cumbria, which is fine so long as the seven per cent is not Millom.

“I’d like to see some detailed mapping of where they intend to roll out this superfast broadband, not just the names of some isolated communities.

“They must have some idea of where they’re going to be covering.

“I would like to think that some of that £40m will be invested in Millom and South Copeland.”

In June the council rejected bids by BT and Fujitsu for the £40m contract and asked them to do more to meet Cumbria's ambition to have superfast access for all.

The Cabinet accepted BT’s revised submission on Thursday, allowing the Connecting Cumbria project to remain on track for delivering superfast broadband to 93 per cent of the county by 2015.

Stuart Klosinski, Industrial Development Manager at Furness Enterprise, in Barrow, said: “We’re delighted to see BT is able to bring their vast expertise and technological competence to bear on delivering this contract that will boost business and residential access to broadband throughout Cumbria.

“We would hope BT will engage closely with local suppliers and look to employ local people in commissioning, installing and maintaining this new technology, so it results in jobs within hard-pressed communities.

“We’ve got some companies that have limited speed, particularly those in smaller towns and rural areas, like Ulverston.

It’s going to be crucial that BT can get on with the job.

“ It will connect all businesses to a global market more effectively.”

First published at 13:25, Sunday, 16 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk