What local people say about high speed broadband

High speed broadband can make a massive difference to people’s lives and there are many people in Upper Wharfedale & Littondale already backing the campaign and eager to get the service.  Chris Clark, of Nethergill Farm, Oughtershaw, Buckden, says: “Having super fast broadband out here would make an extraordinary difference to our lives.”  Chris and his wife Fiona, a graphic designer, run a number of businesses from their home, including the farm, a bed and breakfast, Nethergill Art and Nethergill Associates – a business consultancy service.  “We really struggle due to poor Internet and mobile connections and it makes running our businesses very difficult at times.”  Chris adds: “There is a real need to attract younger families to this area as the local population is aging and I think that fast broadband would make a big difference and attract younger people to live and work here.”  “We are setting up a field study centre here at Nethergill Farm and it is our aim that it will feature wildlife and farm cameras.  We can’t do this without fast broadband.  Fast broadband is necessary for most people nowadays, including young people in education.”  Nicky Fairweather, a freelance PR, marketing and copywriting consultant who currently lives in Halifax with her husband Russ White and their 15-month-old son Jake, is keen to move to Kettlewell and says that fast broadband would be extremely welcome and certainly encourage her to make the longed-for move.  “I work from home and I receive a lot of heavy data and large documents: fast broadband in Kettlewell would be tremendously helpful and make our move there much easier.”  Richard Newey, a Computer Developer who works from his Kettlewell home, says: “Broadband was something I looked for when I moved to Kettlewell and although we do have broadband it is very slow.  Fast broadband would make life so much easier and I am certain it would attract more businesses to set up here, supporting the local community.”