5G for Watton

Councils want Watton to become a pilot 5G town and most connected place in Norfolk.

16:24 06 December 2017

Norfolk MP George Freeman has raised the idea of Watton being a pilot town for 5G. He believes that the town could bid for cash from the government’s £20bn productivity fund to improve its connectivity, which he said could “really put Watton on the map.”

 

His idea was suggested ahead of Watton Neighbourhood Plan Working Group’s latest community meeting held on December 1 at Queens Hall.

 

“Watton can feel a bit left out,” Mr Freeman said. “My idea is about trying to get people thinking could we make Watton a pilot 5G town and make it the most connected place in Norfolk.

 

“There are about 1,500 businesses in the Watton area but a lot of them are invisible. Businesses would want to come here. If this takes off, it would really catalyse Watton.”

 

Neighbourhood plans ensure that the community has a say in where housing is built in the future as well as infrastructure with them.

 

“For too long our towns and villages have been exploited by aggressive out-of-town developers dumping housing estates on us without the necessary infrastructure to support them, putting pressure on our local drains, roads, schools and surgeries,” Mr Freeman added.

 

“That’s why I’ve offered to help Dereham and Watton councils set out proper long-term plans reflecting what local people want over the next 10 to 20 years.”