Faster broadband plans on hold (From York Press)

Faster broadband plans on hold

9:05am Saturday 10th December 2011 in News

PLANS to create faster internet links in rural parts of North Yorkshire have stalled, according to the Countryside Alliance.

The Government named the region as one of four pilot areas for rural superfast broadband networks last year, but a Freedom of Information request by the organisation has revealed none of them have yet received any money from the Treasury, chosen a company to build the scheme, or started work.

The Alliance has said the process has to be simplified to avoid money being wasted, but a Government spokesman said all four projects were making “good progress” and ministers were confident the UK would have Europe’s best broadband network by 2015.

Malcolm Corbett, of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association, said he was unsure whether the schemes should be the responsibility of councils.