Broadband rollout on target to reach 13,500 premises in Lutterworth area

It is all part of the Superfast Leicestershire project, run by Leicestershire County Council and BT.

The Mail spoke to both parties this week to get an up-to-date overview of the situation in the Lutterworth area as its stands.

So far, about 9,000 homes and businesses have been connected to fibre broadband in the area, in Lutterworth town centre, Broughton Astley, Gilmorton and Swinford.

And a further 4,500 additional properties are due to get the quicker fibre cable connected near their homes over the coming months.

The next batch to ‘go live’ will be Ashby Parva, Claybrooke Magna, Dunton Bassett and most of Ullesthorpe.

Looking further ahead, Bruntingthorpe, Husbands Bosworth, Leire, North Kilworth, South Kilworth and Shearsby are set to be included in the summer.

Already 114 green roadside cabinets and 248km of fibre cables have been laid across the county as part of the £18.8 million scheme.

Maggie Pankhurst, of Ullesthorpe, is from the Leire Exchange Broadband Action Group (Lebag) which covers her village, Dunton Bassett, Ashby Parva, Frolesworth and Leire, and has campaigned for five years to get faster internet speeds.

She said: “We are delighted that we will be getting superfast broadband soon.

“It will make a big difference to our everyday lives – on the work, social, educational and economic front.”

Terry Pike, of Willoughby Waterleys and who is from the Peatling Exchange Broadband Group which has lobbied for about three years for better internet speeds for his village, Peatling Magna and Parva, Bruntingthorpe, Arnesby and Shearsby, said: “We’re over the moon to be included in the BT rollout.”

He also praised the county council’s Matthew Kempson and Harborough Council for their support.

Pam Posnett, the county council’s cabinet member for broadband, said: “I’m delighted homes and businesses in Lutterworth are beginning to enjoy the benefits of fibre broadband .

“It makes a huge difference to communities and is helping boost our economy.”

Kasam Hussain, from BT, said: “Access to superfast speeds opens up a world of opportunity for business and leisure and I’m sure those in Lutterworth will make the best use of the new technology.”