RUNNING my own TV aerial and satellite business since 1985, I have always had an interest in media platforms, local and national.

So with large populated areas of town still without a decent internet service and the total waste of money our council spent on a failed Wi-Fi scheme, I can’t be the only person to think, “What happened to cable TV?”

Swindon is, or was, a pioneering town for the network, dating back to the 1920s (Wikipedia) as Radio Relay, and growing into the UK’s first commercial cable franchise, developing into today’s fast broadband and TV service.

But for some inexplicable reason, consecutive cable franchises have not expanded their service, despite current lavish and expensive advertising campaigns on TV and radio.

I read with interest a recent statement that cable will be investing in more coverage. Does that include Swindon?

The last major estate in the town to be cabled was Abbey Meads/Ash Brake, St Andrews Ridge, leaving new housing developments in the Swindon area with no alternative service provider.

To list just a few, a large section of North Swindon, Priory Vale, Haydon End, most of Taw Hill, Mouldon View, The Sidings Ocotal Way, Jubilee Park Bassett (old rugby ground) Wichelstowe, Tadpole Lane development, Common Platt Ridgeway Farm, St Austell Way, Brynards Park Bassett, the former St Ivel site Cloatley Cres Bassett, Angel Ridge Old Town; the list goes on and on.

The irony is most of these sites run adjacent to already cabled areas. The new estate at Badbury Park, Coate is typical of the lack of foresight from providers and developers with no cable available.

Another irony is the existing cable network stretches right to open country side in Royal Wootton Bassett and Wroughton, and yet these massive new estates are not covered.

All this means consumers get no alternative supplier for broadband, phone and TV.

Future 4G mobile maybe the answer, but in the meantime the poor residents of Eastbury Way and beyond are stuck in the dark ages.

ROBERT WEBB Park North, Swindon