Shirehall watchdogs are calling for urgent action to unlock Government funding which can be used to help bring superfast broadband to Shropshire.

Members of Shropshire Council’s enterprise and growth scrutiny committee yesterday examined how broadband coverage could be expanded across the county and speeds improved.

It was agreed to stress to council leaders that it is vital a clear strategy is drawn up as quickly as possible.

Such a plan is needed if a successful bid is to be made this year for Government money which can be spent on projects to make superfast broadband widely available.

The committee also agreed to make the point to the council’s cabinet that there will be no single solution to improving access to broadband services.

For example it could include the use of fibre optic lines, satellite, and wireless technology.

But committee chairman Alan Mosley warned that “universal” broadband coverage was unlikely to be achieved in Shropshire because of the cost of providing access in remote rural areas.

A report said the Government had an £830 million plan to provide the best broadband network in Europe by 2015.

Broadband Delivery UK, the body set up to deliver the Government strategy, has £50 million available to fund test projects in rural areas this year.

Another source of money that could be targeted is the £1.4 billion regional growth fund which will be released over the next three years.

The report from the council’s head of economic development Mark Pembleton and broadband lead officer Alison Brock said a number of businesses, communities and individuals in Shropshire, were becoming “increasingly frustrated” that they could not receive a broadband service.

A presentation was also made to the committee by Ian Binks, BT regional manager, who said that 70 per cent of UK households had a broadband connection.

He said a programme was under way to provide superfast broadband across the country.

More of the exchanges being upgraded to help provide the service would be revealed later this week but he did not know whether any in the Shropshire Council area were included.

Superfast broadband was being rolled out in areas where there appeared to be a demand for it.

By Dave Morris