Westfield benefits from Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

Mon, 5/02/2024 - 11:23
Openreach

Around 330 premises in Westfield, East Sussex, can now access full fibre following an Openreach Fibre Community Partnership programme.

Locals, spearheaded by the local parish council, used the UK Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, alongside a contribution from Openreach, to help fund its digital transformation.

This followed a community consultation in 2020 found that 70 per cent of respondents were supportive of improving broadband service.

Hundreds more in Westfield are set to be connected in the coming months.

Jane Clarke, Clerk and Financial Officer at Westfield Parish Council and a community lead for the project, said: “Having decent broadband to keep people connected and allow people to work effectively from home is an amazing boost for the Parish.”

Jessica Bita, Rural Engagement Manager for Openreach, added: “Openreach is investing £15bn to build full fibre broadband to 25 million homes across the UK, and more than six million of those will be in the hardest-to-reach communities. This support from Government is a vital part of that process.”