A TAVISTOCK business park is set to have access to high-speed fibre broadband, BT announced recently.

Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) has revealed a scheme which will make superfast broadband available to 20 business parks across Devon and Somerset — one of which will be Pitts Cleave Industrial Estate.

The new locations are in addition to 200 business parks across the two counties where CDS has already delivered fibre broadband or has plans to do so.

Paul Coles, South West regional manager for the BT group, said: ‘We’re really excited to be able to bring Superfast Broadband to more business parks. Research was completed on the number of businesses connected under the Superfast Cornwall programme — out of 2,000 SME’s (small to medium enterprises), 50 percent saw an increase in sales and 25 percent of those were exports abroad.

‘According to a recent survey, around 50 percent of SME’s were not trading online. As a country we need to do more exporting and this scheme should help those businesses, that is why the news about Pitts Cleave is particularly pleasing.’

The announcement of the scheme for the extra business parks was welcomed by the Devon and Cornwall Business Council. Chief executive Ben Rhodes said: ‘We are greatly encouraged by the latest announcement from the CDS partnership. Having access to superfast broadband represents a first and very important step towards enabling our region’s businesses to improve their productivity and, ultimately, their competitiveness in the UK and global marketplaces.

Clr Andrew Leadbetter, cabinet member for economy and growth for Devon County Council, said: ‘The faster broadband speeds these businesses will now be able to access will provide a tremendous boost to their day to day operations.’