CALDICOT Town Team has applied for £1,800 funding to move forward with the public Wi-Fi scheme in the town centre.

The town team applied to the Severnside Programme Board for funding for the scheme which aims to provide free public Wi-Fi in the town centre and boost businesses through online deals. The programme board have approved the funding application and will go before Monmouthshire council’s cabinet in May for the final approval.

The team has been working with Spectrum Internet (ISP) to look into the wider project of delivering super fast broadband to Caldicot through the governments Super Fast Connected Cities scheme. They spoke with businesses within the town centre and 12 businesses were interested.

The first access point for the free public Wi-Fi has been placed at the town team’s offices in Jubilee Way car park. The scheme is hoped to be available in the next few months.

The report by the Caldicot Town Team states: “By providing Super Fast broadband infrastructure to the town centre, retail units become more appealing to potential businesses over perhaps other towns with a similar make up as Caldicot.”

We also intend to increase footfall and impulse sales by providing offers and discounts through the landing page of smartphones when connected to the spectrum Wi-Fi.

“Local independent businesses will be able to explore the huge benefits of online shopping to their existing client base, and encourage new customers to invest in independent stores, keeping more of the money earned in Severnside, spent locally.”

The town team intend to include e-vouchers and specific apps for businesses in a bid to attract more people to the town centre. The funding will provide £15 a month to help 10 businesses towards the costs of the Wi-Fi for a year.

Spectrum has also installed free public Wi-Fi systems around Caldicot Castle and at Tintern Old Station thanks to the Rural Development Programme, which is part funded by Monmouthshire council, the European Agricultural Fund and Welsh Government.