SENIOR councillors have agreed to invest £610,000 into further extending a superfast broadband project to make sure the whole region has access to top speed internet.
Superfast South Yorkshire was formed three years ago as local authorities joined forces with the government and BT in a deal to extend the availability of high-speed fibre broadband.
Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet has agreed to make the six figure investment towards the £4m expansion of the scheme, which will see more areas linked up to broadband.
It comes after a review carried out earlier this year found some 27,000 premises would miss out were it not extended.
Barnsley will contribute towards the cost alongside the other South Yorkshire councils.
On making the recommendation for the financial contribution, Coun Alan Gardiner, cabinet spokesman, told councillors a solution had been developed where it would be a ‘net nil’ cost to the counci.
He said: “The proposal known as phase two is to increase superfast broadband availability across South Yorkshire as close to 100 per cent coverage as technically possible.
“It is important to note that the cost to Barnsley will be net nil over time.”
Councillors were told by a representative from Superfast South Yorkshire that 20 per cent of the premises at threat of being left behind are in Barnsley - about 5,400 premises.
The representative said: “There is still an awful lot to do in Barnsley and the work done shows a lot of that is because of growth - commercial and residential growth and not all in rural areas as you would imagine. It’s development that has happened in the last few years.”
Chief executive Diana Terris said internet connectivity is crucial to the borough’s success going forward. “It is important to support this programme,” she said.
The Chronicle understands a map of the areas identified for phase two will be released shortly.
Council papers warned that if the council chose not to invest, thousands of premises would be left behind and not have access to broadband speeds above 30mbps.
A report said: “BDUK are pressing ahead to ensure the UK is one of the best connected countries and the opportunity to progress a further procurement may not arise for some time or even at all. Leaving these areas behind will have a negative impact on the digital and wider economy of South Yorkshire compared to the rest of the UK.”
In April the Chronicle reported that about 25 per cent of homes in Barnsley had been connected to superfast broadband through the project.
They included areas such as Stairfoot, Monk Bretton, central ward, north east ward, Dodworth, Royston, Cudworth, Wombwell, Darton, Birdwell, Cawthorne, Silkstone and Silkstone Common.
As well as superfast broadband, ultra fast broadband - where the fibre optic cable goes straight into the premises - is being offered to enterprise zones and business parks with Capitol Park and Zenith Business Park having already been connected.
