CLA broadband victory in Comprehensive Spending Review

The CLA today (20 October) celebrated victory for its rural broadband campaign as the Government announced 530 million of funding to roll-out a superfast broadband network to rural areas.

The Association, the first to recognise the importance of broadband to sustain the future of rural businesses and communities, had argued for many years that a significant amount of public sector money should be provided to roll-out superfast broadband in the countryside.

CLA President William Worsley said: Broadband is the key to unlocking the potential of the rural economy.

With savings of some 1 billion a year expected through greater online Government services, it is critical that everyone has access to an adequate broadband service. We look forward to hearing more about the detailed allocation of funds and how these will be implemented.

Mr Worsley added: The CLA suggests a series of community broadband grants made available at parish level. With the right funding in place, a proper infrastructure can be provided by the communities themselves by putting the Governments localism agenda into practice.

1. For full details on the Comprehensive Spending Review please visit: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_index.htm
2. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has around 35,000 members.
3. As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and a regional structure able to give local support.
4. We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 100 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.