Labour MP, Graham Jones, has spoken out against plans to bring superfast broadband to Lancashire, by saying it was a “rural Tory broadband issue”.
Lancashire County Council planned to spend £32m to bring superfast broadband to the county, a scheme to which Jones voiced his objection.
“LCC’s figure for Hyndburn’s broadband exclusion of 3,262 would equate uniformly to some 46,000 homes/premises in the 14 Boroughs across Lancashire, not 200,000 that the County Council have quoted. The remaining 150,000 it is assumed are additional residents in rural areas,” he said on his blog.
“I look around the Ribble Valley and parts of Wyre and see a large population of retirees and wealthy escapees. People whom it has to be said have made a choice to live away from urban areas, away from advantages of an urban area,” he continued.
However Chris Conder, the founder of B4RN, opposed his view when he said that the project was working on connecting 8 parishes in Lancashire, adding that “it’s amazing how few rich folk there are, the majority are ordinary working people and small businesses.”
Mr Conder has also said that superfast broadband could bring other benefits such as helping deliver healthcare to remote areas.
