The final push for quicker broadband
Message...people from surrounding villages gather during the Broadband publicity stunt in Ullesthorpe to try and highlight the poor broadband service in the area. (Picture: Andrew Carpenter/001402-86)
A FINAL push has been launched in the campaign to boost broadband speeds in the district.
People have until Monday to complete an online survey to show the powers-that-be how strongly we feel about the need for improved internet speeds in the area.
More than 3,700 villagers and businesses have filled in the survey hosted by Leicestershire County Council and organisers want to break the 4,000 barrier before it ends.
Harborough is still leading the way in the campaign, with 1,600 of the completed surveys from the district.
The council will use the results to work with internet providers to connect the “final third” of the county population without access to super-fast broadband – which is up to 190,000 people.
It aims to reach more than 90 per cent of the population within two years and the entire county within five years.
Tim Watt, chairman of the Leicester Shire Business Council, said: “Broadband is essential for business growth across Leicestershire. I strongly encourage all businesses, including those that are home-based, to complete the survey.”
4 A broadband campaigner organised an event in Ullesthorpe on Saturday to try to encourage more people to complete the county council survey.
Maggie Pankhurst, who lives in the village, has helped spearhead a campaign to raise awareness of the problem by hosting public meetings and petitioning county council and phone company officials for support.
She said: “I know there has already been a really good response to the survey in the area, but there are still people who may not be aware and who can still fill it in.
“We held a really eye-catching event outside the village shop in Ullesthorpe to encourage even more people to go online and register their views about broadband speeds in our area.”
To complete the survey online visit: www.leics.gov.uk/broadband.
For a hard copy email broadband@leics.gov.uk or phone 0116 3056179.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Market Harborough
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
