Tim Farron MP says Cumbria needs fibre broadband

Cumbrian businesses need access to high-speed fibre broadband in order to survive in a competitive marketplace, a local MP has warned.

Tim Farron, a longstanding campaigner for bringing fast internet access to Cumbria, was quoted by the North-West Evening Mail as saying it is "not a luxury".

"It's the difference between surviving and folding," he remarked, adding areas with poor internet access "will face increasing isolation" as speeds increase in well-connected parts of the UK.

The government is investing £530 million in encouraging super-fast broadband growth across the country over the next three years, but the scheme has been criticised by a community of House of Lords peers, who argue it will not cater for those in remote areas.

In a report, the peers called for the introduction of a network of fibre optic broadband hubs to deliver speedy internet to all communities and Mr Farron said their findings should encourage the government to ensure "every person in rural areas has access to super-fast broadband".

The Lords' findings were hailed by the Country Land & Business Association, with deputy president Henry Robinson saying their assertion that access to broadband is more important than speed was "extremely welcome".