Ledbury mayor hails fibre broadband investment

A town mayor has said that a new high-speed internet infrastructure will have major benefits for people living in rural and remote communities.

Phil Bettingtown, mayor of Ledbury, believes that a £56.6 million project that will bring fibre optic broadband to the town within the next four years is a welcome addition.

"It's the homeworkers and businesses in the rural localities that have been suffering and this will help them and help to boost the local economy," he told the Ledbury Reporter.

The scheme is part of the UK's first joint council project to improve internet access to rural areas, with Herefordshire and Gloucestershire local authorities agreeing a deal with BT.

It was announced last week and is the latest to be rolled out under the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme.

BDUK will provide £18.17 million of the funds, £10.1 million will come from Herefordshire Council and £7.5m from Gloucestershire County Council, while BT will stump up £20.9 million.