Yesterday evening the Norfolk MPs joined together to support the EDP and Norfolk County Council’s joint Broadband: Back the Bid campaign. The Bid for funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) would go towards ensuring the whole of Norfolk has access to broadband speeds of at least 2mbps.

Meeting with Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, the Norfolk MPs made the case for Broadband availability across the county; not only for social justice, but for improving business.

The Minister and officials made clear how impressed they were by the strength of feeling and the case made for the potential of Norfolk to pay back the investment through regional growth.

Following the meeting, George Freeman MP for Mid Norfolk said:

“We went and we made the case. We now understand more about the decision making process and will be relating our findings back to the County Council to give Norfolk the best chance of securing the access to internet it so desperately needs. For far too long rural areas of the UK, like those in Norfolk, have been forgotten by London decision makers.

But it is not only a matter of social inclusion, Broadband infrastructure improvements are essential for rural growth. Reliable Broadband access is vital to the success of fledgling businesses and having worked in starting new businesses for the past fifteen years I have seen first-hand how powerful the internet is in liberating opportunity.”

South West Norfolk MP, Elizabeth Truss, who also attended the meeting said:

“It was a very constructive meeting. The Minister and his department were impressed by how professional the bid from Norfolk County Council was. Norfolk has a strong case and great potential for growth. With the A11 being dualled faster broadband will show that from Thetford to Cromer the County is open for business.”

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