THOUSANDS of residents should have access to the council-backed wireless broadband scheme from the beginning of next month.

In 2014, a deal between Swindon Borough Council and UKB Networks was signed to provide a service to around 20,000 homes, which was backed by £3 million in public funds.

While there has been a backlash in North Swindon against the move, planning permission for masts needed to send out the signal has been granted elsewhere.

As a result, UKB Networks has announced Highworth and parts of Old Town and the town centre will have access by June 6.

A spokesman for the company said: “The rollout of the Superfast Swindon network has been progressing well and the first tranche of over 6,000 premises will be able to access the service on 6th June 2016.

“We have completed the build programme across the town and in Chiseldon, creating the foundation of the network and the first rural monopole in Highworth is now in place.

“The latest build programme is now available. We will update the plan and the postcode checker when a new mast comes into service, so residents in the surrounding areas will be able to check availability.”

The company has put up the dates when it will be available across the rest of the town.

People will be able to purchase the service through a number of third-party companies. Details of these firms have not been released but UKB Networks say information will be released shortly.

A number of engagement events have been held across the borough with a number of residents being signed up to be Superfast Champions, who promote the service.

Councillor Mary Martin (Con, Shaw), the cabinet member responsible for the rollout, said: “We met a number of people keen to be Superfast Champions and become advocates of the service at our recent engagement events with residents.

“It was great that so many people who were fully supportive of our plans and keen to find out more about the network’s progress.”

Despite this progress, many residents and politicians in North Swindon have been opposed to the scheme as they believe it hampers fibre optic companies moving in and say it is a waste of public cash.

Attempts to gain planning permission for the masts have failed and a number of public meetings have failed to persuade residents to accept the scheme.

At a public meeting in April, Graham Currier, UKBN’s head of networks, told a public meeting the company had looked for other possible locations for the masts but was struggling to find others which were suitable.

For details on the scheme, visit www.superfastswindon.com.