A North Yorkshire company which produces bras and swimwear for larger ladies has added its ample support to a campaign fighting for better broadband access for rural business.

As we reported last week (See News, Sept 17) the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is furious that the Government as a cost-cutting measure has decided not to support further expansion of the rural telephone network for super-fast broadband.

Small businesses like ours can be the lifeblood of tiny rural communities

Sally RobinsonAmplebosom.com

Now, that campaign has won the uplifting support of Sally Robinson, whose company Amplebosom.com operates from the tiny village of Old Byland, near Helmsley

The CLA says that a report by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) - recommending no government investment in next generation access network - is “seriously blinkered”.

According to CLA Vice President William Worsley the rural economy is being severely hampered and requires government investment to provide fast broadband services for all.

He said: “Not just regionally and nationally but internationally we are being left behind on this issue, losing our competitive edge by the day – and meanwhile excellent businesses like Sally’s strive to compete with one hand tied behind their back.”

Founded in 1999, Amplebosom.com specialises in bras, underwear and swimwear for the fuller-figured woman and as a web-based mail order business is highly reliant on fast and reliable internet access. Although having installed satellite broadband access, with Yorkshire Forward assistance, Sally finds the service very expensive and much slower than the broadband available in urban areas.

She said: “Small businesses like ours can be the lifeblood of tiny rural communities offering welcome employment opportunities to people who might otherwise have to migrate to more populated areas.”