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Two award-winning local businesses have described the long-awaited arrival of superfast broadband in the area as ‘brilliant news.’
Horncastle will benefit from a county-wide £48m project to provide superfast broadband to almost 90 per cent of Lincolnshire’s homes and businesses by 2016.
The county council has signed a deal with telecoms giant BT to implement the infrastructure work.
The council claims the project will transform lives and create thousands of jobs.
Work in Horncastle - and surrounding villages - should start in April, 2014. The programme should be completed by April, 2016.
W Crowders and Sons Ltd - one of the town’s biggest employers - said they had numerous problems with their existing broadband supply and the arrival of a superfast system was long overdue.
Company secretary Neil Rudkin revealed Crowders had considered re-locating their on-line operation to another area.
Mr Rudkin said: “People will be aware of our garden centre in Lincoln Road but that is only part of our business.
“Our on-line business is increasingly important and the problems (with broadband) have held us back.
“We did consider re-locating so this announcement is long over due.
“It’s brilliant news and will make a huge difference,
“It means we will be able to compete better on a national and even international basis.”
Rob Folwell, co-owner of the nationally acclaimed Greetham Retreat Holiday complex, said they relied on the internet for 70 per cent of their business.
He said: “It is so important to us and to be honest, the current system is slow - at best.
“Superfast broadband would be a big help.
“Apart from bookings, we advertise all our cottages have WiFi so again, this should be of huge benefit.
“It’s crucial to our on-going development.”
Funding has come from central Governemnt (£14m) while the county council has contributed £11.1m. BT has committed £18.8m and EDLC has added £1m.
Kelly Smith, executive member for finance and HR at the county council, said: “Quite simply, this is the biggest infrastructure project for Lincolnshire ever that has universal benefits.
“Economically, this will see big firms locate to sites in Lincolnshire and see others already here , stay here.”
Some villages in the heart of the Wolds will miss out on the initial upgrade and will have to rely on a ‘basic’ service.
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Weather for Horncastle
Saturday 18 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
