TWEEDSMUIR will be joining the superfast digital highway thanks to a grant of £69,000.

The funds will contribute to the cost of providing a reliable, affordable and superfast broadband connection to all properties within the Tweedsmuir Community Council area.

The grant is being provided by Ventient Energy through the Ventient Glenkerie Community Fund, which supports groups and small charities within a 15 km radius of the Glenkerie Wind Farm.

The average broadband speed in the area is currently less than 0.5 Mbps, with some properties having no access to broadband at all.

The project will not only help households’ access digital services - it is hoped that the improvements will also also benefit the area’s businesses.

The project, Connecting Tweedsmuir, will be run by BT OpenReach and the community.

Paul Greaves, Secretary of Tweedsmuir Community Council, said: “Tweedsmuir Community Council would like to offer its heartfelt thanks to Ventient Energy, Glenkerie windfarm and its local panel for agreeing to offer a £69,000 grant for the village's project to bring superfast broadband to the community.

“The plans, once realised, will have a huge positive impact on residents and the 20-plus businesses in the area in that the project guarantees fast internet connectivity, with all its many benefits, now and into the foreseeable future.

“Tweedsmuir has seen much disinvestment over the past 40 years - the loss of the post office, rural transport, the Crook Inn in particular - but this project, the Council feels, is a vital step to the regeneration of our community.

“We thank you for showing your commitment to us in such a tangible and worthwhile way.”

Mark Jones, Ventient CEO, added: “We are delighted to be supporting this project and look forward to seeing the new broadband connections making a real difference to the families and businesses that are in the community.

“We have seen similar projects have a significant positive impact, and we look forward to this campaign delivering real benefits.”