5-month wait for a faster internet in Southgate and Pennard
TWO Gower communities are celebrating after securing crucial cash for super-fast broadband, but had to wait five months for Government funding.
Two weeks ago the Welsh Government made an offer of £115,687 of funding to cover the cost of the infrastructure needed to carry out the project in Southgate and Pennard.
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Chairman of Southgate and Pennard Broadband Neil Beresford (centre left) with Clive Downey, director of ResQ IT and Telecoms (centre right) and members of the broadband committee, with Roger Randle, of Pennard Community Charity (right), celebrating the village’s broadband connection.
Jamie Francis, of Pennard Stores, said the communities were disappointed the application for funding took five months to approve following an initial submission in March.
He said: "The Welsh Government seems not to be towing the line that people such as Business Minister Edwina Hart are pushing that super-fast broadband needs to be in communities.
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"It is great that they have offered the funding but people have got very upset that it hasn't happened quicker."
A Welsh Government spokesman said the Welsh Government did not receive a technical proposal for Southgate and Pennard that fully met the conditions for its Broadband Support Scheme until August 31 and confirmed an offer of funding of £115,687 was made on September 18.
He said: "To date the Welsh Government has offered Broadband Support Scheme funding totalling £2.3 million to around 3,000 applications from across Wales.
"Due to this significant level of investment provided by the Welsh Government, together with the scope and scale of some of these community projects, robust assessment and appraisal mechanisms are necessary to ensure that appropriate, sustainable and cost-effective broadband solutions are delivered to applicants."
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk
01792 514597
Comments
by susiqzz
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 7:54AM
“The internet isn't just for fun and convenience any more Brochadav. Many people work from home....even rurally!....and need a higher speed service. Your Consultant could be reviewing your xrays from home at 4am, saving time and allowing more rapid treatment. Your children need it for their homework. Rural emergency services (what's left of them!!), including the coastguard need rapid access to visual data. Some things out in T'Country are indeed vital.”
by brochadav
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 5:37AM
“While I fully appreciate what the net brings to my life, I use it for banking, doctors appointments etc, is it really more important to spend 2.3 million getting it to rural communities than to spend it on schools, hospitals or other vital services?”