Whilst the Welsh Government boasts about enabling more than nine out of ten premises in Wales to upgrade to superfast broadband, and providing access to thousands more premises by March 2021, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy and Chairman of the Cross Party Group on Small Shops, has spoken out in anger at rural communities in Aberconwy being left behind.
Janet said:
“I am using all levers at my disposal to highlight the significant demands for fibre connectivity in Conwy.
“For example, I am writing on behalf of concerned residents every week, and have hosted public meetings in Betws y Coed and Maenan with the Director of Openreach and the responsible Welsh Government Minister.
“Despite me ensuring that the Welsh Government knows the needs of Aberconwy, funding just is not being made available to upgrade wide areas of the constituency.
“In fact, it seems that superfast broadband is not reaching rural Aberconwy.
“Half of Cwm Penmachno, Trofarth, Eglwysbach, and Ysbyty Ifan are just a few examples of communities where constituents are expected to suffer super slow speeds indefinitely.
“What makes this even more maddening is that I have businesses and homes in some communities being refused an upgrade despite fibre running past their properties.
“I am sure that if Mark Drakeford AM, First Minister, lived in Trofarth and was being denied fibre despite a pole being installed close to his property, he would be in a state of despair too”.
ENDS
Notes:
Disappointment with New Superfast Scheme
Next Faster Broadband steps outlined
