Bedford Borough Councillor Alison Foster has criticised the Council’s Liberal Democrat and Labour administration for failing to deliver broadband improvements for rural areas.

Under the Joint Local Broadband Plan the Council has contributed just £32 for every property with speeds below 2 Megabits per second.  This can be compared with the Council’s partner authorities, Central Bedfordshire Council and Milton Keynes Council which have spent £102 and £120 respectively. 

Cllr Foster feels that the aim of the scheme to address the ‘market failure’ in providing faster broadband for rural areas will not be achieved as the more commercially viable areas have been given precedence by the contractor, BT Openreach.

Cllr Foster, who represents Harrold Ward said:

‘The results of the broadband initiative have proved most disappointing for the rural areas. I am shocked to hear that the Borough has chosen to contribute far less than the other participating Councils and the effect this will have on the roll out of broadband to the North Beds villages.

‘This initiative was meant to benefit the rural areas - but instead the main beneficiaries are the urban and near urban areas.  This merely goes to highlight the contempt in which this Lib Dem/Labour coalition holds the rural areas.  In my Ward the small villages of Podington, Hinwick and Odell have missed out altogether and they are not alone.’