THE PEOPLE of Whitchurch are stepping up their campaign to win superfast broadband with just weeks to go before the competition closes.

Whitchurch is fighting to be among the winners in BT’s Race to Infinity competition, where the five areas in the UK with the highest percentage of their residents’ votes will be upgraded with faster internet access.

Voting closes on December 31 and campaigners were out in the town last Saturday to drum up more support.

They were supported by North West Hampshire MP Sir George Young, and town and borough councillors.

Since the campaign was launched in November, it has already gathered more than 1,000 votes. Whitchurch, which was up to second last week, has this week slipped to fifth – so the pressure is on to get more people behind the campaign which will make a big difference to local people and businesses.

Sir George said: “With the bad weather that we are all experiencing, this underlines the need for those who live in rural areas to have access to high-speed internet connections so they can compete on equal terms to those in urban areas, who are often less inconvenienced by the bad weather.

“More and more people are working from home – either through choice or necessity – and they are more efficient if they have fast broadband connections.”

Support from local businesses, schools and residents is going to be crucial, according to the town’s mayor in the race to the finishing line.

Councillor John Clark added that winning the competition would have major benefits for the town.

He told The Gazette: “We have Albright International here, one of – if not the – leader in their particular field and they rely on this type of technology.

“They employ many people in the town so it is important we do all we can to make sure they stay.”

Ian Fenton, IT manager at Albright, commented: “Our internet connection is a constant frustration. With faster broadband, we could expand our use of web-based programs.”

To add your vote to Whitchurch’s campaign, go online to racetoinfinity.bt.com.