Oulton Park hosts launch event for Cheshire fibre broadband project

Cheshire's Oulton Park race circuit was the setting for the official launch of a multimillion-pound project that aims to significantly boost the county's fibre optic broadband coverage.

The Connecting Cheshire Partnership, a scheme involving BT and Cheshire's four local authorities, is looking to bring high-speed fibre broadband to 96 per cent of homes and businesses across the county by 2016. When the rollout is completed, the region will be one of the best-connected in the UK.

Taking place earlier this month, the Oulton Park event was attended by more than 100 local Digital Champions, who were briefed on how the project will improve provision in rural areas and build upon existing infrastructure in urban locations.

Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said the launch was also an opportunity to thank the Digital Champions for their work towards raising awareness of the super-fast broadband plans.

"They have helped secure more than 8,000 registrations over the past year and without their support we would not be launching the project," he explained.