Better broadband could help unlock rural economies, says CPRE

Commenting on the government announcing new financial help for rural homes to get better broadband, Daniel Carey-Dawes, head of rural economy and communities at CPRE, the countryside charity, said:

‘It’s no secret that poor broadband coverage and quality across rural areas has been a major barrier to living in the countryside, especially for young people. Today's announcement by government could not be more timely and will be welcome news for hard hit rural businesses and many families hoping for better connectivity.’

‘Better broadband has real potential to open up the possibilities of remote working and could be the difference between young people continuing to live in the areas they grew up in or moving to the urban centres. We’ve long been calling for increased connectivity in the countryside making this a centerpiece of our coronavirus recovery manifesto. It’s clear the government has listened and we look forward to working to tackle rural isolation and improve connectivity right across the countryside.’