COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington are being asked to invest £1.051 million over the next three years to provide superfast broadband across 90 per cent of the borough.
The recommendation is going to the next meeting of the borough council’s executive board on Tuesday, June 18.
It is estimated provision of superfast broadband will generate a gross impact of more than £450 million over 15 years and create more than 3,500 jobs.
The government has provided £570,000 to Warrington to support private sector investment in high speed internet.
This forms part of a Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) award of £3,240,000 to the four unitary authorities of Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington.
Cllr Hitesh Patel (pictured), the council’s executive member for personnel and communications, said the council was committed to supporting the local economy and helping to build strong and activities communities and the availability of high speed internet services was an essential part of this commitment.
He said: “Investment in superfast broadband is a key action which will drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for Warrington residents and businesses in this decade.
“It will underpin future business investment and growth, educational attainment, the transformation of public service delivery and a range of everyday activities carried out by individuals, households and community organisations.”
Across the sub-region, it is that business and professional services could create 4,000 jobs over a 15 year period, digital and creative industries 800, advanced engineering 300, energy and environment 100, food and drink 900 and others 5,400, making a total of 11,500.
Faster broadband to create 3,500 jobs
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
PIcking numbers out of a hat to impress? I am glad he used the phrase ‘could create’
I agree – Question – What does this really mean for Warrington and how many jobs will this bring to Warrington??? Also I am glad that the pressure I put on the council to act is making them sit up. It’s a shame that they have allocated funds to a company that has gone to the wall. Makes you think if Cllr Patel is checking this companies out before he starts to spend the Towns money?? Finally though why should 10% of the Town suffer from slow Broadband – I thought it was all going on in Warrington! Ifthat’s the case then it should be 100% of the Town and these people should be told thatbefore you start to use any of the peoples money! or is that just Orford Park where things only happen now?
If the council are getting half a million to invest in high speed broadband in the private sector how does that affect me? My business makes extensive use of broadband but nobody’s ever offered me any dosh towards the cost of upgrading and thinking about it, why should they?
If you want superfast Broadband, suggest a move to Korea, South that is rather than North, 100 Mbps is the norm and this year they hope to attain 1 Gbps. Not sure what speed superfast will be in Warrington as the article doesn’t say, but I guess 20Mbps if you are lucky and at the moment the figure on average is probably around the 4Mbps mark.
The article doesn’t say exactly WHAT the taxpayers of Warrington are going to be buying with their £1million. Is it facilities, infrastructure, hardware, software, a stake in a company – or will it all just go on “consultants” fees and expenses? And neither does it say over what period and at what rate of return the investment is to be repaid – because surely that’s the whole point of an investment, to get paid back more cash than is put in. I have a powerful feeling that this £1million is just another thinly disguised gift to someone’s favoured company.
If the Council is going to invest £1.051 million for the super fast broadband to what are our present monthly payments for phone & broadband packages contributing or investing in? Most competitively commercial companies aim to improve their service in an endeavour to build up their customer base and loyalty. We have had these sorts of promises with meaningless figures and targets before, Remember how North Sea Gas and Nuclear Power were going to reduce the average household’s energy bills and provide additional employment? And the number of IT related schemes which have failed to achieve a fraction of what they originally claimed they would is endless. Is this investment going to be contractually deliverable, or will the money just be shelled out regardless of the eventual broadband speed?