RESIDENTS of Okehampton are being asked to participate in a survey which could result in a major boost to businesses and services in the future.

The survey — which is published on page eight of the Times this week for householders to fill in — will identify a need and take-up potential for faster communications which are seen as essential for the town to attract new industry.

Okehampton is one of three towns in the South West taking part in the broadband communications survey which is part of the Government's support for the regeneration of market and coastal towns.

Rod Lane, who has been employed by Okehampton Town Council and the South West Regional Development Agency to carry out the survey explained that broadband connections were about ten times faster than narrowband which is the standard telephone line internet connection.

'Something which takes about 20 minutes to download using narrowband can be done in about two minutes using broadband,' he said.

'People who work, for example, with computer-aided design do not send big files by e-mail at the moment because it takes forever — it has been estimated that one third of the total time spent on the internet is waiting for something to happen.'

Mr Lane said he had spoken to several firms who agreed that if they were making a decision to move to Okehampton, communication capacity would be paramount.

'By not having broadband communications, they said they would be at a commercial disadvantage with competitors who did have it,' he said.

'People sometimes switch off when you mention technology but really this effects everyone from those using the internet to contact friends to a farmer ordering a new part for his tractor to schools linking up with other educational establishments.

Dr Paul Neilson, who has been the driving force behind the new Okehampton hospital, said faster communications were all important in the new state-of-the-art facility.

'We have been fighting for broadband communications for a long time because it will be extremely useful in diagnostics,' he said.

'We will be able to send ultra sound and x-ray images down the line to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital for examination much quicker and therefore this makes it more cost effective.

'Broadband would be a tremendous advantage for patient services and it really is essential for what we are trying to do here,' said the doctor who wants to save patients the trauma of having to travel to Exeter to see consultants.

If the survey shows a need for broadband communications, providers will look into whether it is commercially viable. If not the Government will look into subsidising it.

Forms have to be completed by November 8 and each person will go into a draw to win three pairs of tickets to see Atomic Kitten and Lulu in Okehampton on November 17.