Five local authorities in the West Country have come together to submit a bid for some of the government's £530 million of money to encourage the rollout of super-fast broadband.

Devon and Somerset county councils have teamed up with North Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay councils to apply for the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) cash.

The administrations have put forward plans for a £100 million project that will bring broadband to 100 per cent of properties by 2015, with at least 85 per cent set to get access to super-fast speeds.

Council chiefs backed the improvement work to contribute to economic growth, support the reform of public services such as education and health and bring a wide range of online innovations and applications to more people.

Fewer than 40 per cent of homes and businesses in Devon and Somerset are currently able to receive a super-fast broadband connection - an issue that is set to continue without the intervention of BDUK funding.

More than 5,000 companies and residents have got behind the scheme by responding to a survey that investigated the importance of improved broadband.

The bid has also attracted the attentions of a number of other important parties, including all 19 MPs from the south-west counties, plus universities, the NHS and fire and rescue services.

Will Mumford, cabinet member for economic regeneration and strategic planning at Devon County Council, said: "Super-fast broadband is vital for our counties - we have to improve the speed and reliability of our infrastructure to ensure parity with other areas.

"With so many of our businesses located in rural areas, it is essential that they are not disadvantaged and can create opportunities for growth and employment throughout our communities."

The deadline for applications for the BDUK cash passed on Monday (April 18th 2011), with the government expected to announce the winning bidders by the end of May. 

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