Superfast Broadband For The Peak District

6.10.10pm GMT Fri 2nd Dec 2011

The Peak District National Park Authority and Business Peak District , together with Peak District Online are urging residents and businesses to fill in broadband surveys and help unlock Government funding to increase speeds in rural areas.

In August the Department for Culture, Media and Sport pledged millions of pounds to help improve broadband services across the country. This included large areas covered by the national park - £7.3m for Derbyshire, £7.4m for Staffordshire/Stoke, £3.2m for Cheshire, £6.3m for West Yorkshire and £990,000 for Gtr Manchester.

But in order to unlock the funds, county and city councils have to match the allocation with their own or private finance.

The councils are now urging local people to explain their needs so that vital investment decisions can be made to raise the necessary match-funding.

Broadband surveys have been set up on county and city councils' websites to assess the situation for homes and businesses across the area.

Cllr Godfrey Claff, Peak District National Park member representative for the economy, said: "I'd urge everyone to go onto their county or city council website and take part in any surveys they are running - let the decision-makers know how the situation affects you.

"The Government aims to ensure 90 per cent of UK homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband by 2015.

"Now is the time to do everything you can to make sure Peak District businesses and communities benefit from the money that is being made available."

Jim Harrison, who chairs Business Peak District and runs Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, said: "High-speed broadband services are absolutely essential for rural businesses to remain competitive. Filling in a survey will only take a few minutes of your time but could make a big difference to the future prospects of your business and the Peak District economy."

The Derbyshire broadband survey can be found at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DerbyshireBroadbandSurvey.