Ed Vaizey issues warning on slow fibre broadband projects

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey has issued a warning to three councils and partnerships that their fibre optic broadband plans are behind schedule.

Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral is one of the super-fast broadband projects to have been chastised by Mr Vaizey, along with the partnership between Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland, and a scheme from Bath and North East Somerset (BNES).

The BNES project has proved controversial, with councillors initially deciding to withdraw from the national funding framework on the grounds it would cost too much to secure state aid, before choosing to re-enter the process.

Mr Vaizey expressed his disappointment that three of the projects have fallen behind and said he will be seeking "urgent talks" to ensure that each of the councils involved understands the importance of swift progress being made.

"We do not intend to continue to fund councils if they continue to fail to deliver," he declared.