Businesses urge Lingfield to secure fibre broadband

Lingfield residents and businesses have encouraged local politicians to work towards securing superfast broadband for the Sussex town, following the news that it will be left out of BT Infinity's plans to launch high-speed connections across the region.

Surrey County Council has pledged some £20 million towards securing superfast broadband for those areas not involved in the BT scheme.

However, business owners in the area still feel they could be left out in the cold and have urged local politicians to fight their corner, reports the East Grinstead Courier and Observer.

Martin Cundey, consultant at Howard Cundey estate agent in Godstone Road, said not being part of the rollout could put the firm and other Lingfield companies "at a disadvantage to those in nearby areas".

Download speeds in the Lingfield area range from 0.2Mb to 18.6Mb, a snail's pace compared to 46.2Mb in neighbouring East Grinstead.

Michael Sydney, county councillor for Lingfield, said: "I will certainly ensure that Lingfield and Dormansland's voices will be heard when the plan is brought to full council."

Surrey County Council plans to reveal the details of its broadband deployment in the coming months.