A billion pound boost to the economy, thousands of local jobs created and better communication for residents – just some of benefits superfast broadband can bring to Cheshire.

Members of Warrington Borough Council were joined by their partners across the region at Jodrell Bank on Friday, February 3 as part of Connecting Cheshire; a project which aims to ensure everyone has access to superfast broadband by 2015.

The Connecting Cheshire partnership comprises Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Warrington and Halton Borough Councils.

The partnership has received more than £3 million in Government funding to date for the roll-out of superfast broadband but needs up to £40 million in order for the project to reach its potential.

To do this, Connecting Cheshire hopes to attract further funding from the Government and European grants to ensure full coverage of superfast broadband across the sub-region. Friday’s event was a chance to present interested parties with the reasons behind the project and the importance of superfast broadband to the local economy.

The event included the publication of a value and impact study which predicts that full superfast broadband coverage could result in gross economic and social impact of £1.3 million and create 11,000 jobs. This would include the creation of 3,000 jobs across rural and semi-rural areas across Cheshire, Warrington and Halton.

Anyone who wants to find out more about Connecting Cheshire, can contact the team in a number of ways:

Twitter: twitter.com/SFB_Cheshire

Facebook: Connecting Cheshire

Website: www.connectingcheshire.org.uk

Email: info@connectingcheshire.org.uk