A LEADING campaigner for fibre optic broadband in North Swindon says he is unable to support plans to extend coverage across the town and has asked for the decision to be postponed.

Coun Toby Elliott (Con, Priory Vale) organised a petition among residents to bring superfast connection to the area but believes the latest proposal falls short of what is needed.

Last week the council announced plans to go into partnership with UKB Networks, which will extend its 4G LTE coverage to 99.4 per cent of the town by the end of 2016, following a tendering process.

If the deal gets approved at cabinet on Wednesday it will cost around £1.9m, short of the £3m allocated to the scheme.

Priory Vale is one of the areas that does not yet have superfast broadband but Coun Elliott, along with many residents, said while he thanks his colleagues for their efforts, fibre optic cables should be the aim.

Numerous discussions have been held with BT and Virgin but both companies have said they will not be laying cables.

Coun Elliott said more work is needed to get them to change their decisions after the two companies chose not to take part in the tendering process.

He said: “I look back at my petition and my aims were very clear from the start – fibre broadband for Priory Vale’.

“This scheme does not deliver fibre broadband for Priory Vale and so consequently at this stage I cannot support it.

“I have made my views known to Cabinet and asked that at the very least the decision next week at Cabinet is postponed so that all possible options can be looked into, including going back to Virgin Media and BT again, so Priory Vale is not left out in the cold when it comes to broadband.

“This is no criticism of my colleagues in slightest. They have done everything they could have so far through the process.

“So, to summarise, this is not a scheme that I can support and I will keep adding pressure to BT and Virgin Media and others to secure a long-term solution for Priory Vale.”

There have been numerous concerns raised about the 4G LTE scheme, one of which is that it will not provide the consistent level of coverage needed.

It has also been likened by some to the failed wi-fi project, which saw the council lose £400,000.

Coun Garry Perkins (Con Haydon Wick), the cabinet member for economy, has denied this is the case and said the UKB programme is the best on the table.

He said: “If you separate this away from everything else then this is very good for Swindon. Not only has UKB had to go through our vetting process but also that of BDUKs. It is going to be paid for results so will not get money until it starts delivering.”