BT slammed for lack of broadband progress in Malvern

BT has been criticised by businesses and residents for breaking its promise to deliver superfast broadband upgrades to parts of Malvern.

Businesses within the area and council economic development chiefs have claimed that BT promised to deploy fibre optic broadband in Malvern Wells and West Malvern as soon as planning consent was given.

But even though the consent had been fast-tracked by Malvern Hills District Council in September, there have been no upgrades.

In addition, BT is said to have broken a promise to upgrade parts of Enigma Business Park, Malvern's largest employment site, Worcester News reports.

BT denies the claims, stating that it still plans to upgrade all 19 of the town's street cabinets this year, with a date yet to be announced.

Tony Stephenson, managing director of Enigma Business Park's Traplet Publications, suggested that people were being "fobbed off" by BT.

"Not only have we been lied to by BT, but they clearly don't care," he said.

"We employ a lot of people and this is starting to put their jobs at risk. We will consider relocating if it is not resolved," he added.

Simon Smith, district council economic development manager, urged BT "to just get on with it" after stating his disbelief that the telecoms giant had not started to upgrade the park's cabinet.

Last week, BT said that its fibre broadband rollout will cover two-thirds of the UK by spring 2014 – the second time that BT has sped up its plans, which had an original end-date of late 2015.