Make Ceredigion a priority for Superfast Cymru, says AM
Elin Jones AM for Ceredigion has sought an urgent meeting with the Government to discuss the rollout of broadband in Ceredigion, following figures which revealed that only 60% of homes in Ceredigion which are eligible for Superfast Broadband were completed by this summer.
The figures, revealed by the Welsh Government, placed Ceredigion second from last in all Local Authorities in Wales for Superfast installation by percentage.
The figures also revealed that nearly £6million has been spent by Superfast Cymru in Ceredigion, less than half of that which has been spent on neighbouring rural communities in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd and Powys, which each averaged between £12 and £14million.
Elin Jones AM said:
“I’m seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister overseeing the rollout of Superfast Broadband across Wales. This is simply not good enough.
“I am extremely concerned about these figures, and will be seeking answers from the Government on the issue.
“Ceredigion seems to have been left behind in the rollout process. It has had comparatively less money spent by Superfast Cymru than that spent in similar rural areas, and the results show this.
“I am constantly hearing from constituents about poor broadband speeds and whole communities have been let down as several deadlines for Superfast Broadband have been missed.
“There are also cases where communities are being left out of the scope completely by Openreach, when they are extremely close to areas who receive Broadband.
“Fast and reliable internet is what we need in Ceredigion, both for our communities and for our businesses. The Government now needs to step in and act to make sure that Ceredigion is seen as a priority for Superfast Cymru, and that’s what I shall be pressing the Government to achieve.”
Cllr. Alun Williams, Ceredigion Council Cabinet Member, said:
“Every week people are making decisions about where to live and work based on availability of Broadband. If we don't provide the facilities that people need in the modern world it will lead to rural depopulation.
“On the other hand, if we get it right, broadband has the capacity to equalise all the inequalities between rural and urban areas that have always existed.”
Welsh Government Figures:
|
|
Local Authority |
Percentage of Superfast Cymru Eligible Premises Complete – June 2016 |
|
1 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
98.32% |
|
2 |
Blaenau Gwent |
97.89% |
|
3 |
Rhondda Cynon Taf |
94.94% |
|
4 |
Torfaen |
88.98% |
|
5 |
Bridgend |
88.02% |
|
6 |
Conwy |
88.00% |
|
7 |
Caerphilly |
87.13% |
|
8 |
Neath Port Talbot |
83.60% |
|
9 |
Pembrokeshire |
81.99% |
|
10 |
Isle of Anglesey |
80.21% |
|
11 |
Newport |
79.64% |
|
12 |
Gwynedd |
79.36% |
|
13 |
Swansea |
78.86% |
|
14 |
Wrexham |
76.57% |
|
15 |
Vale of Glamorgan |
76.42% |
|
16 |
Flintshire |
75.28% |
|
17 |
Carmarthenshire |
70.94% |
|
18 |
Denbighshire |
70.76% |
|
19 |
Monmouthshire |
68.93% |
|
20 |
Powys |
65.67% |
|
21 |
Ceredigion |
60.44% |
|
22 |
Cardiff |
58.08% |
|
|
Local Authority |
Superfast Cymru Eligible Premises Complete – June 2016 |
|
1 |
Pembrokeshire |
50,121 |
|
2 |
Gwynedd |
49,252 |
|
3 |
Rhondda Cynon Taf |
47,851 |
|
4 |
Carmarthenshire |
47,320 |
|
5 |
Conwy |
46,813 |
|
6 |
Powys |
43,135 |
|
7 |
Blaenau Gwent |
31,921 |
|
8 |
Isle of Anglesey |
28,134 |
|
9 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
26,728 |
|
10 |
Caerphilly |
25,764 |
|
11 |
Flintshire |
24,011 |
|
12 |
Wrexham |
22,508 |
|
13 |
Neath Port Talbot |
22,043 |
|
14 |
Swansea |
21,285 |
|
15 |
Ceredigion |
21,252 |
|
16 |
Denbighshire |
20,399 |
|
17 |
Bridgend |
19,266 |
|
18 |
Torfaen |
18,100 |
|
19 |
Monmouthshire |
16,053 |
|
20 |
Vale of Glamorgan |
14,200 |
|
21 |
Newport |
9,866 |
|
22 |
Cardiff |
4,853 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local Authority |
Superfast Cymru spend by local authority – September 2016 |
|
1 |
Pembrokeshire |
£14,234,570 |
|
2 |
Gwynedd |
£13,974,700 |
|
3 |
Carmarthenshire |
£13,394,753 |
|
4 |
Conwy |
£13,247,095 |
|
5 |
Rhondda Cynon Taf |
£13,028,437 |
|
6 |
Powys |
£12,252,033 |
|
7 |
Blaenau Gwent |
£8,933,036 |
|
8 |
Isle of Anglesey |
£7,914,306 |
|
9 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
£7,547,312 |
|
10 |
Caerphilly |
£7,029,441 |
|
11 |
Flintshire |
£6,539,339 |
|
12 |
Wrexham |
£6,039,593 |
|
13 |
Ceredigion |
£5,975,072 |
|
14 |
Neath Port Talbot |
£5,948,535 |
|
15 |
Swansea |
£5,714,751 |
|
16 |
Denbighshire |
£5,557,301 |
|
17 |
Bridgend |
£5,277,009 |
|
18 |
Torfaen |
£4,864,056 |
|
19 |
Monmouthshire |
£4,552,833 |
|
20 |
Vale of Glamorgan |
£3,992,402 |
|
21 |
Newport |
£2,554,065 |
|
22 |
Cardiff |
£1,342,583 |