PRESSURE is mounting on council chiefs not to spend £2m of tax-payers money installing superfast 4G broadband across the borough.

Residents are also objecting to the 15ft masts which would have to be set up around the town to enable the service, with a number set to be placed close to homes.

Private firms such as BT and Virgin are already believed to be making moves to provide fibre optic broadband and councillors in the Conservative Party say 4G broadband is now generally considered outdated.

Earlier this year, Swindon Borough Council agreed a deal with UKB Network to extend its 4G LTE network across the borough.

Justin Tomlinson, the MP for North Swindon, said: “Council leader David Renard and cabinet member Mary Martin need to wake up and listen to residents. “No one has asked for 4G broadband, an outdated and expensive scheme that will simply fail, resulting in hard-working tax-payers’ money being wasted.

“Fellow local residents, myself and the North Swindon Councillors have made it crystal clear that we are opposed to this scheme and the proposed masts. Every single petition was for fibre broadband yet SBC have been sweet talked into this disastrous deal with UKB.”

The cost of £2m to the public purse would be split between the council and government and many have questioned whether it is the most efficient means to acquire a faster broadband service.

On top of this, many residents are opposed to living next to 15 foot masts.

One mast is proposed for Torun Way which, if given approval, will be within in a metres of residential homes. Families in the area are adamant it will not go ahead.

Pete Taylor, a 35-year-old doctor, said: “There is a strong feeling from a lot of people here about this. We do not want this mast near us.

“There are still health concerns about these masts and it detracts from the whole area. One of the reasons I, and many others, moved here was because of the green space.

“We thought they would not build one here and then without any public consultation we’re told the masts are going here. We do not need this scheme here. It is something which is designed for rural areas. It feels we are being sacrificed for the rural areas.”

Despite the growing opposition in North Swindon, council leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) says there are no plans to back out of the deal.

“We have a legally binding contract with UKB so we can’t tear it up,” he said.

“This is not just for the people of North Swindon but for the whole borough. There are many residents living in rural areas who are looking forward to getting superfast broadband.

“We spoke with BT and Virgin before we signed this who told us unequivocally they had no plans to install fibre optic cables.

“On Friday I spoke with the head of UKB who said he would welcome it if they did as it would mean more competition.”