Oxfordshire communities seek fibre broadband funding

Rural Oxfordshire residents are to apply for government funding to support the rollout of fibre optic broadband.

Projects for the Evenlode Valley and Northmoor, Moreton and Bablockhythe are set to bid for cash from the government's £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund, reports the Oxford Mail.

Many parts of Oxfordshire are already poised to receive superfast broadband access through a public-private partnership between the county council and BT, but some smaller communities are set to miss out.

If the applications are successful, the projects will use the money to deliver fibre broadband to 5,000 properties across the Evenlode Valley and 480 at Northmoor.

Graham Shelton, chairman of Northmoor Parish Council, said plans to improve connectivity in the area have been afoot ever since it became clear that Northmoor could be overlooked in BT's rollout.

"I'm delighted that now, after a huge team effort, we should achieve our objective of superfast fibre for every property in Northmoor, Moreton and Bablockhythe," he added.