Downscaled fibre broadband pledge angers Cheshire residents

Residents and businesses in rural Cheshire have hit out at the decision to scale back a major rollout of fibre optic broadband in the area.

The Connecting Cheshire project, led by Cheshire East Council (CEC) and Cheshire West and Chester Council, had originally aimed to bring the technology to 100 per cent of local homes and businesses.

However, this target has now been downscaled to 90 per cent of the region due to budgetary issues, the Knutsford Guardian reports.

Around 13 per cent of properties in Cheshire receive speeds of less than 2Mbps, with the issue particularly affecting residents in rural communities.

Local resident and broadband campaigner Kathy Doyle said she felt let down, commenting: "Everybody is very disappointed."

David Brown, cabinet member with responsibility for strategic communities at CEC, stressed that the project has always intended to achieve the maximum possible level of fibre broadband coverage.

But he explained: "This is subject to market forces beyond our control, as we only have a fixed budget that is made up of government grants and contributions from the local authorities."