Hundreds of Derbyshire residents have lent their support to the county council's super-fast broadband plans.

The local authority is calling for residents and businesses to complete an online survey aimed at illustrating levels of demand for the technology, as well as parts of the region that are struggling with little or no broadband connectivity.

According to the Matlock Mercury, over 1,500 people have already completed the questionnaire, but the county council is hopeful that more will get involved in the initiative.

The survey has been launched as part of the administration's plan to take advantage of £7.39 million of funding allocated to Derbyshire by the UK government. The Conservative-led coalition believes the money will benefit more than 188,000 Derbyshire properties that currently have poor broadband services.

Demonstrating public demand for improved internet access is believed to be key in encouraging the private sector to invest in the county.

Kevin Parkinson, Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for regeneration, said the local authority should set its sights higher than the £7.39 million from the government.

"Although they have given us the pledge, if we can raise more money, say £10 million, then I have confidence that we can encourage the government to match that," he remarked.

Mr Parkinson stated delivering faster broadband to Derbyshire is one of the council's top priorities and expressed his gratitude to all the people who have completed the online survey.

"We are competing with all the other county councils in England, but if we can demonstrate that everybody is behind this campaign it can only put us in a strong position," he added.

Some 63 per cent of Derbyshire households currently have access to broadband, excluding super-fast services, according to recent figures from Ofcom.

The regulator also discovered the average download speed in the county is 6.2Mbps, significantly below the UK-wide figure of 7.5Mbps. 

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10th November 2011

More time wasting delaying surveys - no wonder the Councils have been given this job. They act completely to form. The case for superfast broadband delivery for the whole of the UK has been made. If the Isles of Scilly and the smallest fishing villages in England are being provided with it. How much further evidence is needed?