Cornwall business projects 'not all facing cash freeze'

Some projects aimed at boosting Cornwall's economy will still take place - after fears they could be scrapped because of a cash freeze.

Among the schemes which have been confirmed to go ahead is one to deliver broadband access to 90% of the county's businesses.

There had been fears the government was poised to cut off money for the schemes.

But Whitehall has now pledged its backing for some of the plans.

The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) had been told the government could not process any cash requests for the European-funded schemes.

However, it has now been confirmed that projects which do not require additional money from the RDA - which is set to be abolished by the new government - can still go forward.

The projects at risk had tried to access cash from the Convergence funding scheme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which had up to £500m in grants on offer and was due to run until 2013.