Shropshire MPs slam full fibre delays

Shropshire MPs have slammed the slow progress of households and businesses getting full-fibre broadband.

The Project Gigabit rollout of fast fibre broadband connections to 12,000 properties stalled at around 3,500 after previous contractor Freedom Fibre withdrew from the scheme.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has confirmed that more than 8,700 premises would be added to an Openreach contract, which already covers other parts of Shropshire.

Openreach say it has already delivered full fibre to more than 175,000 homes and businesss across Shropshire, including 71 per cent in north Shropshire.

However, North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan said that, while ministers presented the change as a solution, it is further evidence of poor handling and lack of urgency.

“People in North Shropshire were promised full fibre broadband by the end of this year, and instead they have been left with years of uncertainty, delays and shifting goalposts,” said Mrs Morgan.

“Rolling these connections into an inferior Openreach contract risks pushing rural communities to the back of the queue yet again. Families and businesses who were promised fast, reliable broadband are now facing the prospect of waiting far longer.”

Stuart Anderson, the MP for South Shropshire, recently met with Broadband Minister Liz Lloyd to highlight the issue.

“When she visited Stottesdon in March, she promised that Shropshire would not be left behind in the rollout of reliable broadband,” said Mr Anderson.

“Yet, the latest figures show that Shropshire is already being neglected.

“Only 350 connections have been built so far under Project Gigabit, despite the number of contracted premises standing at 52,060 for North Herefordshire, North Wales, Shropshire, and South West Wales.

“The Minister has also said that she expects 99 per cent of homes and businesses to have access to lightning-fast gigabit capable broadband connection by 2032.

“However, this has been delayed from the previous government’s target of 2030. The two-year delay means missed opportunities to plug the rural productivity gap, which reflects the fact that average earnings and access to opportunities are lower in rural parts of the country like South Shropshire.”