High-speed broadband is on its way to Loddon after the district council came up with a site to house the new technology.

The town was on the list of places to receive the upgrade, however BT had been unable to find a suitable site for the street cabinet which is necessary for the technology.

On hearing the dilemma, South Norfolk District Council set aside space in Church Plain car park and work immediately got under way this week.

District Council leader John Fuller said: 'When all other avenues had failed, BT came to us to find a site and we immediately made available space in our car park.

'Loddon would have gone to the bottom of the list and we couldn't, with a clear conscience, see Loddon miss out.

'Broadband is essential for the local economy and also for social inclusion and it will transform homes and businesses.'

BT has already started work upgrading its exchanges in the county and these need to be sited close to the original box.

Although the council will lose a small amount of revenue with the loss of a parking space, Mr Fuller said the benefits by far outweigh the small loss, particularly considering the importance of tourism to the area and the number of businesses in the town.

District councillor for Loddon Colin Gould, was at the site to see the first work get under way.

He said: 'It might mean a slight loss of revenue but it is absolute imperative for businesses and residents in the town that we get improvements to our internet coverage.'

The news was also welcomed by Ray Lumley, chairman of Loddon Parish Council, who said the high-speed broadband connection was vital for the town and it would make a huge difference for residents and businesses.

Through a multi-million pound partnership between Norfolk County Council and BT, new broadband is being installed across the county.

By the end of next year, more than 80 per cent of the county should be able to access super fast broadband.

The district council has set aside £1.25 million to bring super fast broadband to homes and businesses in the area and Mr Fuller said one of the next projects would be to find alternative ways for the most geographically isolated homes to receive the technology.

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