Many villages in the Driffield area suffer from slow broadband connection which hampers the enjoyment of the world wide web for users and has the potential to be counter productive for rural businesses.

Speeds around Driffield are said by village users to vary from slow to appalling, although in some areas they have improved in recent years
The CLA says that a report by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) - recommending no government investment in next generation access network - is "seriously blinkered".

According to CLA Vice President William Worsley the rural economy is being severely hampered and requires government investment to provide fast broadband services for all. He said: "Not just regionally and nationally but internationally we are being left behind on this issue, losing our competitive edge by the day – and meanwhile excellent businesses like Sally's strive to compete with one hand tied behind their back."

Founded in 1999, Amplebosom.com specialises in bras, underwear and swimwear for the fuller-figured woman and as a web-based mail order business is highly reliant on fast and reliable internet access. Although having installed satellite broadband access, with Yorkshire Forward assistance, Sally finds the service very expensive and much slower than the broadband available in urban areas.

She said: "Small businesses like ours can be the lifeblood of tiny rural communities offering welcome employment opportunities to people who might otherwise have to migrate to more populated areas."
Meanwhile, Sally is about to launch a more sophisticated website and is looking to the possibility of 3G internet access via the mobile phone network to help her business achieve further growth.

William Worsley said: "The digital divide has left many rural areas unable to compete and graphically illustrates the failings of relying solely on the private sector. The longer term solution must be a public/private sector partnership.

"We are not talking about playing games and watching videos – the very future of British industry depends on this. If we are not careful, our hopes for the broadband of the future will be smothered under a flood of conflicting reports as the UK grinds to a halt while the rest of the world gets on and does it."

• Readers, do you suffer from slow broadband speeds. Tell us your experiences by writing to Your Views, Times House, Mill Street, Driffield. YO25 6TN.




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