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‘Hurry up’ warning in broadband race
DEADLINE ... Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, has issued a warning to South Tyneside Council and its leader Coun Iain Malcolm, inset.
COUNCIL bosses in South Tyneside have been given a “hurry up” call over a bid for Government cash to boost the borough’s internet links.
Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, says he wants to meet council bosses from South Tyneside, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Sunderland, over their group bid for cash to improve the region’s broadband network.
The deadline for submissions is the end of next month, and the North East group is one of three in the country which Mr Vaizey says has not yet delivered “robust broadband plans”.
He added: “We do not intend to continue to fund councils if they continue to fail to deliver.”
The group bid is not linked to a BT scheme announced last month, which will see 31,400 homes and businesses in the borough given access to superfast broadband by the end of this year.
South Shields and Boldon are among eight areas in the North East included in BT’s £2.5bn expansion programme – Openreach.
The £700m Government scheme is being administered through Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and 44 projects in the country have either been approved or are likely to be given the go ahead very soon.
Mr Vaizey wants more details from the local group in the North East, which includes South Tyneside, and members of the Merseyside bid and a submission from the Bath area.
A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: “Since the announcement about the upgrade of our two exchanges in December, we are now working with BDUK to develop a broadband plan for submission to the Government.
“We are extremely committed to improving the broadband infrastructure for South Tyneside.
“We will be working very hard to ensure that businesses and residents are able to take advantage of any new sources of funding that become available from time to time.”
Mr Vaizey said: “I have been impressed by the enthusiasm the majority of councils have shown for seizing the opportunity to roll-out superfast broadband, but I am disappointed that a few councils seem to have slipped behind schedule, and I will be seeking urgent talks with these councils to ensure they understand the need to make real progress quickly.”
South Tyneside Council leader, Coun Iain Malcolm, said: “We are doing what we can with the money we have so far, and are happy with the way things are going.
“I want the whole of the borough covered by superfast broadband as soon as possible. If he can help speed this up, that’s great.”
Twitter: @shieldsgazette
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Weather for Jarrow
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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