Free broadband pledge for North Tyneside region

A mayor in North Tyneside has pledged to introduce free broadband to every home in order to assist in the development of a better life for adults and children.

North Tyneside elected mayor John Harrison is behind the plans for local councils to provide free broadband to all households in the area.

Speaking to the News Guardian, Mr Harrison revealed his belief that this would improve children's education and also bring global information and influence to the region.

He told the newspaper: "Now is not the time to do nothing - now is the time to plan, to act and to provide the support and leadership that the residents of North Tyneside want and need."

"The price of doing nothing is to fail the people of North Tyneside," Mr Harrison continued. "It would put at risk their prosperity, their jobs, their homes and their dreams for the future."

"My vision is of a positive future, increased prosperity and even greater opportunity," he added.

The Conservative Party recently outlined plans for the deployment of a fibre optic network by 2018 which would connect every home in the UK to ultra-fast broadband.