SINCE the campaign for a better rural broadband was launched 78 volunteers have come forward in the Cotswolds.

The Borders Broadband project is a multi-million pound initiative to secure private investment in a new fast broadband infrastructure for the county’s rural areas.

As part of the campaign, a Gloucestershire-wide survey of households and businesses is underway to show there is demand for fast broadband services in rural communities.

To get things moving, volunteer broadband champions are being recruited to link towns and parishes to the campaign to highlight the benefits of high-speed broadband and to encourage households and businesses to take part in the survey.

Councillor Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council is pleased with the response so far.

He said: “This is beginning to show that there is real demand for faster broadband in our rural communities throughout Gloucestershire.

“I would urge everybody who hasn’t done so already to complete a survey questionnaire, and help us persuade the private sector to invest in the necessary infrastructure.”

The Cotswolds Conservation Board, which looks after the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is also backing the campaign and their own survey shows that nearly half of households in the area have broadband speeds below or at 2Mbps.

For more information or to complete a survey visit gfirst.co.uk/broadband.