CULTURE Secretary Jeremy Hunt used his first speech on media policy to confirm Government plans to bring superfast broadband to rural areas It will come as a boost to residents and businesses in secluded parts of north Essex.

Keith Brown, Essex Federation of Small Businesses regional organiser, described internet access speed in Tendring as “appalling” and in Colchester as “patchy”.

In fact, broadband access is deemed so poor in Tendring, it made it on to the list of the district council’s priorities, alongside massive road and tourism plans.

The business group is trying to improve internet connections for rural areas in Colchester and Tendring, which it claims is vital for the areas’ futures.

For businesses in particular, the internet is a critical issue, as more and more of the UK’s economy moves online.

Figures from market research group Mintel showed the UK was leading the way in Europe’s online economic growth, with billions spent via the internet each year.

Mr Brown said: “If you have not got high-speed broadband, you might as well be using a quill pen.

“The Government is requiring companies to use the internet, but it isn’t providing the infrastructure.”

High-speed broadband is a priority for the Government, with one report suggesting a £6-a-year tax should be introduced on all residents to fund it for 90 per cent of the country.

But rural districts, such as Tendring and outlying parts of Colchester, are likely to miss out as companies find it is not profitable enough to put in the infrastructure.

David Ralph, chief executive at the Haven Gateway Partnership, believes it is not just a problem for business but also communities and people in eduction.

He said schoolchildren were increasingly expected to use the internet as a research tool, and public services to give information.

The widest and most ambitious project is looking at connecting the whole of the Haven Gateway area – Colchester, Tendring, Ipswich and Felixstowe – to high quality broadband.

It would run in the same way as a pilot project in Maldon, where transmitters were placed on top of water towers.

That project cost about £30,000 and offered top quality internet to homes and businesses from £12 a month.

The early signs are the project has been a huge success, and research is ongoing into whether it could be brought to the Haven Gateway area.

Mr Ralph says the introduction of broadband may be patchy and could cost up to £10,000 to get each parish connected.

If it happens, it depends on the money available and the number of residents and businesses willing to pay for the service.

But with the Essex Federation of Small Businesses predicting superfast broadband could create 60,000 UK jobs, perhaps the question is, can we afford not to?