North Yorkshire’s future; broadband matters as much as council shake-up – The Yorkshire Post says

NORTH YORKSHIRE finds itself at the proverbial political crossroads this weekend as the county comes to terms with the longer-term social consequences of the Covid-19 lockdown.
By YP Comment
Published 29th Aug 2020, 05:55 BST
The fuutre governance of North Yorkshire is in the political spotlight. Photo: James Hardisty.The fuutre governance of North Yorkshire is in the political spotlight. Photo: James Hardisty.
The fuutre governance of North Yorkshire is in the political spotlight. Photo: James Hardisty.

An independent commission was already considering the future provision of services, and how best to serve the remote rural communities, before the Government signalled its desire to create a single council which would also be headed by a metro mayor.

Now the challenge is pulling both pieces of work together to ensure that North Yorkshire can become one of the pre-eminent places to live and work once the coronavirus pandemic has passed.

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This involves attracting more families to move to the countryside, and the provision of sufficient affordable homes, without compromising the area’s breathtaking beauty – the reason why the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors have such enduring appeal.

Provision of high-speed broadband is Norh Yorkshire's top infrastructure priority.Provision of high-speed broadband is Norh Yorkshire's top infrastructure priority.
Provision of high-speed broadband is Norh Yorkshire's top infrastructure priority.

It also requires rural communities to be served by high-speed broadband – a recurring nightmare for those whose connection was so intermittent, or non-existent, that it was simply impractical for them to work from home during the lockdown.

But this also requires North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council and the area’s network of district councils using the devolution debate to decide how best to enhance the quality of life of residents. At the moment, their near-obsession with political structures, presumably out of self-interest, risks taking precedence over services such as the upgrade of critical infrastructure like broadband. This mindset now needs to change.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

Editor

Related topics:North YorkshireGovernmentYorkshire PostYorkshire DalesCity of York CouncilNorth Yorkshire County Council

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