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Fighting for Fair Digital Connectivity in Newbury

Following on from my meeting with the Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA) last week, today, I met with Minister Bryant. In our meeting, we discussed the urgent need for improved digital connectivity across our constituency, particularly in our rural communities. This is an issue that came up time and again on the doorstep during the election, and many times since.


While I’m pleased that Berkshire has received over £9 million in funding through Project Gigabit and Local Broadband Funding, the reality is that progress in many parts of Newbury remains frustratingly slow. Yes, 81.1% of the constituency now has access to gigabit broadband, but this statistic masks a stark divide between our urban and rural areas.

In places like Chieveley, availability registers at just 39%. In Kintbury, Boxford, Lambourn, and Great Shefford, the situation is even worse, with some areas ranking among the worst 10% in the country for broadband speeds. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s holding back our rural communities.


Take Curridge, for example. Despite being near major infrastructure like the M4, residents suffer from slow and unreliable internet. In 2017, Gigaclear laid cables and connected properties, but service has still not been delivered due to delays in infrastructure completion. Repeated assurances since 2018 have still not resolved the issue, and in 2021, a five-year-old contract was deleted, requiring reordering. Residents cannot work effectively from home or perform essential tasks like secure banking due to poor connectivity.

During a recent visit to Lambourn, I heard firsthand how poor connectivity is impacting daily life. Local businesses, like horse training stables, are struggling to recruit young staff because nearby housing lacks reliable broadband and phone signal. This isn’t just a quality-of-life issue; it’s a threat to the sustainability of our rural economy.


At the meeting with the Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, I raised the high cost of connection, which can be as much as £400 for gigabit broadband—a barrier for many households and businesses. I also lobbied for Kintbury, Lambourn, and Great Shefford to be included in the next phase of Project Gigabit, with a view to expand to Chieveley as soon as possible.


The gap between urban and rural connectivity is deeply unfair. Digital access is essential for work, education, and connection, no one should be left behind because of where they live.


The Liberal Democrats believe that investment in broadband will help unlock the vast potential of our rural communities. We must ensure that improving broadband and mobile connectivity starts with the hardest-to-reach areas first. It’s wrong that people should be disadvantaged simply because of where they live.


I’ll continue to push for faster, fairer rollout of digital infrastructure in our hardest-to-reach areas. Because every community in Newbury deserves a fair shot at thriving in the digital age.

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