A Rural Disappointment

£43million superfast broadband package for Lincolnshire a let-down as the money has already been awarded and spent.

13:20 28 July 2020

The £34million superfast broadband package for Lincolnshire has turned out to be a let-down as the money has already been awarded and spent. 

 

On Wednesday, Grantham and Stamford MP Gareth Davies asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson: "Can we assure that Lincolnshire will receive the required funding to boost digital connectivity for all the people of Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and our local villages?" 

 

To which the Prime Minister responded: "Yes, indeed I can, which is why we have pledged not only £5billion in funding for gigabit-capable broadband across the country, including the hardest-to-reach areas but additionally a £34million package for Lincolnshire superfast broadband, helping 135,000 households to benefit from gigabit-capable speeds." 

 

However, it turns out Mr Johnson merely repeated the news of money previously awarded. 

 

Simon Beardsley, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "For most of us over the past four months we have been working from home and for many that will continue or we will see the flexibility around office working, meaning connectivity is even more crucial especially in rural areas of Lincolnshire. 

 

"We have already seen an allocation of money spent on Lincolnshire which saw 172,000 premises upgraded under the Lincolnshire County Council programme, but reliable digital connectivity is one of the most basic requirements for any business and is often a deciding factor and the missing jigsaw piece when businesses are deciding to relocate to Lincolnshire, making it all the more important to see that clarity from government around future investment into Lincolnshire.