Waveney MP, Peter Aldous is pushing for better and faster broadband across the constituency and will be taking up the matter with Ministers in Westminster. He recently attended a business forum on broadband at Adastral Park, Martlesham which included prominent leaders from Suffolk’s business community.
The meeting, which was hosted by BT, included other newly elected MPs, Therese Coffey from Suffolk Coastal and Dr Daniel Poulter from Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, along with representatives from Choose Suffolk, the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses, the National Farmers Union, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and the Country Land & Business Association. The MPs were given a list of key actions to take to Westminster to push for improved high speed broadband availability in Suffolk.
Mr Aldous said:
“Better broadband is a must for Suffolk, both to enable existing businesses to grow and to encourage new businesses to set up in Waveney.I will be working with colleagues across the Coalition Government to try to put a stop to “notspots”.
Andy Wood, Chairman of Choose Suffolk and Chief Executive of Adnams, said:
“We discussed the challenges facing rural businesses and rural communities more generally around broadband. The upshot is that businesses in Suffolk are prepared to play a full and active part in finding the right solution for the county and, on the evidence of the meeting, our MPs, too, are more than willing to play their part.”
The business forum called for:
- local MPs to arrange a meeting with new broadband minister, Ed Vaizey
- an audit to be carried out of existing resources in Suffolk
- the appointment of a co-ordinating person or organisation with the necessary authority
- authorisation of resource sharing and co-operation
- an end to unrealistic advertising promises around broadband speeds
- funding with a proper structure and delivery framework
- the business forum to be kept informed of any progress and to facilitate two-way communications.
