West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has called for a faster approach to help rural communities which are still struggling with poor internet connections.

And the MP is hoping to meet with Government Ministers and has tabled a Parliamentary Question to discuss the introduction of an updated voucher scheme which will help upgrade broadband speeds across the county.

Harriett has expressed her concern that although national internet rollout plans will help some communities to get download speeds of up to one gigabit per second, there are still plenty of local home-owners and businesses who still can’t get a fit-for-purpose connection.

Harriett met with representatives from a group of communities living between Clifton upon Teme and Great Witley who are trying to connect into the superfast broadband network.

Harriett said:

“The Superfast Worcestershire team has done a great job rolling out superfast broadband to the premises for much of the county but there are still many of the more remote communities in my constituency who don’t have decent broadband or a decent mobile phone signal.

“Next year, the Government will turn its attention to upgrading people’s connections to gigagbit speeds but I am extremely concerned that our rural homes and businesses will continue to go without.

“I am hoping to get a meeting with the Minister to discuss this issue and I am seeking more detail on instances where Openreach encounter obstacles on upgrade projects.

“Decent internet connectivity is an essential service these days and I see no reason why some of my constituents should still have to wait while the large telecoms companies now turn their eyes to other, more lucrative, projects.”

Photo: Harriett Baldwin MP, Superfast Worcestershire’s Robert Stepneiwski with Karen Metcalfe and Darren Reynolds.