Worcs council organises sessions to support fibre broadband plans

Worcestershire's fibre optic broadband plans are being supported by two advice sessions organised by the county council in which residents can submit expressions of interest (EOIs) to three funding schemes.

The events, which will be held in January, will help groups put together EOIs for the Green Infrastructure, Worcestershire Local Sustainable Transport and Rural Community Broadband funds.

Any money secured via these routes will be in addition to the £8.5 million pledged by the council and the £3.3 million of public money that will be allocated to Worcestershire if the county's fibre broadband plans are approved by the government.

David Thain, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for transformation and change, said: "I would urge communities to consider local solutions and to take up the offer of support with the EOI processes to access funding."

The latest Ofcom figures show 59 per cent of Worcestershire properties can receive super-fast broadband, but 19 per cent experience speeds of less than 2Mbps.