FASTER broadband speeds could be on the way to the Claines, Warndon Villages and Diglis areas of Worcester, with the city council leader defending a decision to put £50,000 into better internet services.

Councillor Simon Geraghty said the council plans to continue with a policy to invest “bonus” Government cash into vital infrastructure such as road schemes and the worldwide web.

Every year the city council gets large grants as a reward for the amount of new properties being built in the area, known as the New Homes Bonus.

The scheme launched in 2011 and there is £4.8 million yet to be allocated on projects between now and 2020.

The council’s policy is to spend one third on infrastructure such as roads, one third on ideas for boosting the economy and the rest on new social housing. So far contributions have been made to the new Whittington roundabout layout, resurfacing of Worcester High Street and better internet speeds.

The city’s £50,000 for faster internet services has been added to the £11.8 million broadband improvements project which is being carried out by Worcestershire County Council.

The decision has led to criticism web speeds should be left to County Hall, particularly as the scheme is mainly aimed at rural areas, but Coun Geraghty said it was the right decision.

“There are areas such as Claines, Warndon Villages and parts of Diglis where people don’t realise it but speeds are actually pretty slow,” he said.

“The New Homes Bonus is a very important fund for us and the three areas we want to look at for spending the money are those we believe will benefit the city.

“We’ve got the economy and regeneration, infrastructure, which includes broadband, and social housing.

“We are looking at an equal split. We believe we can deliver on the economy and in terms of helping business.”

Councillor Paul Denham, deputy leader of Worcester’s Labour group, said: “We should not be spending Worcester’s money in rural areas.

“This is a county council scheme, not a city one.”

The £11.8 million internet speeds cash has yet to be spent but County Hall received a boost last month when Broadband Delivery UK, which has stumped up £3.3 million of that fund, got approval from the European Commission for the scheme to launch.

The money is aimed at providing superfast broadband to 90 per cent of homes and businesses by 2015, defined as 24 megabits per second, with rural areas the priority.”