Officials are preparing to bid for a slice of £50 million of funding to bring superfast broadband to Brighton and Hove.
The Argus is today joining forces with MPs across the political divide to make sure the city gets the digital investment.
Brighton and Hove could not apply for the first round of Government funding for superfast broadband because ministers had decided the money should only be available to cities with more than 150,000 homes.
Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas launched the Let Brighton Bid campaign earlier this year – backed by The Argus, Hove MP Mike Weatherley and Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby – demanding the city be allowed to apply for support.
In Wednesday’s Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced an extra £50 million of funding would be made available to Britain’s smaller cities to access superfast broadband.
Yesterday (March 22), Brighton and Hove City Council confirmed it intended to bid for the money once the full details of the scheme have been revealed.
Dr Lucas said as the city is home to one of the “biggest and most successful” digital sectors in the UK, superfast broadband is vital.
She said: “Ultrafast broadband will help ensure Brighton and Hove continues to be a big digital player, and enable us to meet our ambition to be an even more significant technology and cultural hub in the future.”
'Thriving digital sector'
The MP met with Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt this month to make the case for the city’s bid, and has also invited him to Brighton Digital Festival.
Mr Kirby said: “Brighton has a thriving digital sector which is growing at three times the national average.
“Ultrafast broadband is vital if that growth is to be maintained and if Brighton is to keep pace with the larger cities receiving Super Connected Cities funding from the Government.”
Mr Weatherley said: “Our skills base locally has shifted from manufacturing to the media-based industries.
"If we are to take full advantage of this on the international level we need our broadband to be ultrafast.”
Jason Kitcat, the council’s cabinet member for finance and central services, said: "I welcome the announcement of this funding in response to the campaign to include our city in the original broadband funding round.
“In principal, we intend to bid to help boost our local digital and creative industries."
Like us on Facebook
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel