Wilshamstead Cllr Graeme Coombes has welcomed news that progress has been made in providing superfast broadband speeds to residents in Wilstead and Wixams.

Cllr Coombes has lobbied for Wilstead and Wixams to be included in the works carried out by BT as part of the ‘Accelerating Bedford’ project.  The Council is working in partnership with the Government for the first phase of the scheme to deliver basic speeds of at least 2 Megabits per second (Mbps) to all premises in the Borough and superfast speeds (at or above 24 Mbps) to 90%. 

The Council and the Government are also set to contribute £1.2m each for a second phase to proceed which, according to Council officers, should allow ‘comfortably in excess of 95%’ of properties to benefit from superfast speeds in the coming years.

Cllr Coombes said:

‘I was very pleased to hear that BT has upgraded cabinets which will allow Wixams residents to access superfast broadband speeds. 

‘I also understand that Wilstead is to benefit shortly as well once BT concludes works on cabinets serving the village.

‘Wixams and Wilstead residents have been very keen to receive faster internet speeds and I have made their case to the Council for a long time.  It is therefore great news to see that progress is being made.’