By Ian Duncan

Last updated at 13:01, Monday, 18 March 2013

Three extra areas in Cumbria could get access to superfast broadband after an increased bid was approved.

Eddie Martin

If successful, it would mean that the percentage of Cumbrian properties with broadband could climb to 94 per cent following the decision by Cumbria County Council’s cabinet.

Members agreed that the bid to the Rural Communities Broadband Fund should include three additional project areas: Eden Valley Digital, Great Asby and Northern Fells.

If the bid is successful it will result in funding being made available to give 2,500 of Cumbria’s ‘hardest to reach’ properties access to superfast broadband and bring an extra £1.4m into the Connecting Cumbria project – and would be on top of the funds already secured.

Council leader Eddie Martin said they needed to “remove the inequality of the rural communities”.

“It reduces that gap and it moves us closer to 100 per cent coverage of Cumbria,” he said.

Members agreed with the recommendation and Liz Mallinson, the cabinet member with responsibility for the Connecting Cumbria project, welcomed the decision.

“This underlines the council’s commitment to removing inequalities in broadband services available across the county, and to exploring innovative ways to extend the superfast broadband footprint across to some of our remotest and hardest to reach locations,” she said.

“The Rural Communities Broadband Fund (RCBF) offers an opportunity to bring additional funding into the Connecting Cumbria project and investment into the county.

“We are delighted to be able to expand our original bid and work closely with these projects. This is a significant step and if successful moves us ever closer to our vision of 100 per cent coverage.”

If successful the bid will allow more homes and businesses in areas which have not been serviced by the commercial sector to get access to superfast and affordable broadband.

The three projects now join six other RCBF schemes previously given cabinet approval, at Braithwaite, Bootle, Culgaith, Holmrook, Shap and Threlkeld.

The Wave 2 application will be submitted to RCBF by the end of April.

First published at 12:59, Monday, 18 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk