DEMANDS have been renewed to scrap the council-backed superfast broadband scheme that has been rolled out across North Swindon.

In 2014, Swindon Borough Council agreed to take part in the government’s Superfast Broadband Extension Programme and struck a deal with UK Broadband Network Ltd (UKBN) to deliver the project.

It was an attempt, funded equally by the council and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) to the tune of £1.9m, to bring superfast broadband to more than 19,500 homes that could not access high internet speeds.

But last year, residents in North Swindon celebrated being “brought into the twenty first century” as BT Openreach rolled out fibre broadband in North Swindon alongside the council-backed project.

At the time UKBN was awarded the contract, however, BT hadn’t brought their fibre broadband infrastructure to North Swindon. And now the latter is firmly in place, calls have been made to scrap the former.

It comes after the council’s scrutiny committee last week referred back to cabinet a decision on its Superfast Broadband Extension Programme in North Swindon, “delaying and potentially ending” the scheme.

The cabinet report had recommended removing five of the six base stations in North Swindon, leaving just one in Cassini Drive in Oakhurst to provide coverage for the council’s Superfast Broadband across the whole area. The Cassini Drive base station proposal already has planning permission and would include the erection of a 15m high monopole.

Tom Smith, the Labour Party’s council candidate for Priory Vale, said: “Having got signatures from Oakhurst residents objecting to this microwave base station in their local area, I am delighted to hear the delay of this scheme due to the scrutiny committee’s decision.

“With planning permission for this base station already being granted the only way this can be stopped is if the council scraps the Superfast Broadband scheme in North Swindon.”

He said that, according to the planning permission given, the base station will include the erection of a 15 metres high monopole and equipment cabinets.

“A pole 15 metres high will tower above the Oakhurst skyline and will be a massive eyesore to the area.”

But Councillor Toby Elliott, the cabinet member for strategic planning and sustainability, dismissed suggestions that the scheme ought to be dropped.

He said: “A huge amount of people in Swindon - more than 99 per cent - now have access to the 24mgps broadband which has been rolled out for residents and businesses.

“Working with local councillors, residents and MP Justin Tomlinson, we now have fibre broadband being installed in North Swindon and have reduced the masts to just one single site.”

He also stressed that the council’s scheme presented people with choice.

But Mr Smith refused to budge. He added: “Now the scrutiny committee have referred the scheme back to Cabinet, I would urge them to reconsider approving this scheme.

If not I will continue to petition the council, making sure they know the feeling among residents.”