Faster broadband is rolled out across area Team aim to raise cash for F1 finals
Faster online speed
Politicians have welcomed the news that thousands of people in West Lothian now have access to faster broadband.
Areas across West Lothian to benefit from the Digital Scotland rollout, led by the Scottish Government, include Westfield, Winchburgh and Whitburn. Over 22,400 homes and businesses across West Lothian can now upgrade to faster fibre broadband through the £428 million Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband rollout.
More local coverage will follow as engineers from Openreach – Scotland’s digital network business – continue work on the ground.
Councillor Kirsteen Sullivan, depute leader of West Lothian Council, added: “I am delighted that areas across West Lothian can access fibre broadband thanks to the programme and more people are now able to get a superfast speed. Whether you are downloading a box set, a small business making transactions or just keeping in touch with friends, fibre broadband can make it all happen easily.
“West Lothian has one of the highest levels of superfast broadband coverage in Scotland and the UK. It’s vitally important that we continue to market West Lothian as a great place for businesses to remain competitive, grow and innovate, and that’s why West Lothian Council has invested £2.5 million towards improving high speed fibre broadband.”
Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, said: “Once again it is very positive news knowing that more premises than ever before now have fibre broadband available to them.”
Miles Briggs, Lothian regional MSP, said: “I would encourage residents in West Lothian to take advantage of the fibre broadband now available.”
Robert Thorburn, fibre broadband director for Openreach in Scotland, said: “As the rollout nears its end stages, we’re really digging in to some harder-to-reach communities and places where the engineering challenges are more significant.” The girls from Inveralmond Community High School’s ‘ Team Velocity’ have embarked on a series of fundraisers to get them to the F1 in Schools Challenge World Finals in Singapore. The team, made up of Chloe Adam, Beth Lewis, Amy Shaw, Nicole Mulrainey, Katie Saunders and Megan Cleaver, are now faced with the task of raising just short of £30,000. This will pay for flights, accommodation, resources and competition fees in order to compete at the World Finals, which take place in September. Fundraisers organised so far include a Zumbathon tomorrow (Friday, June 22). The girls, who are looking for a sponsor and donations of raffle prizes for their race night, have also set up a gofundme page at www. gofundme. com/ scottishgirls- in- engineering for anyone who would like to donate to help them reach their target.
Anyone interested in the fundraising can also get more information at the team’s Facebook page.