MP angered by fibre broadband snub for Monmouthshire

Monmouth MP David Davies has slammed a decision to overlook Monmouthshire in plans to extend fibre optic broadband networks across Wales.

The latest round of the Welsh Next Generation Broadband Project is set to begin in 2013-14 and will see faster speeds rolled out in 14 areas throughout the country.

laenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan are the first unitary authorities to benefit from the scheme.

However, Mr Davies believes that Monmouthshire should also have been included, arguing that the county has again been left "languishing at the bottom of the broadband pile".

"Given the well-documented problems we have here, I fail to understand why Monmouthshire has not been prioritised," he added.

The MP has demand a response from Welsh Business Minister Edwina Hart as to why the county failed to make the cut for the initial stage of the deployment.