Online boost for Hamilton

95 per cent have superfast access

The broadband roll-out to over 4000 homes in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse was raised in the Scottish Parliament.

Constituency MSP Christina Mckelvie pinned the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity down on an update.

And Fergus Ewing responded that 95 per cent of homes can now access superfast speeds.

He said: “The £400 million investment that the Scottish Government and our partners are making through the digital Scotland superfast broadband programme will extend fibre broadband access to at least 95 per cent of premises by the end of 2017.

“Without that investment, only 66 per cent of premises would have been reached. To date, the programme has provided fibre broadband access to 4215 premises in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency, 95 per cent of which are capable of accessing superfast speeds.”

The parliament then heard that residents in Stonehouse continue to have poor broadband.

Ms Mckelvie said: “I welcome that answer, and I am sure that the 4215 premises in my constituency will welcome it, too. However, constituents from the village of Stonehouse have had a very difficult time with getting access to broadband, and, when they have got access, they have experienced loss of service and slow service.

“That has been disruptive not only to domestic users of broadband services, but to the many businesses in the area that depend on an uninterrupted high-speed service in order to do their business. Will the cabinet secretary look into the particular problems that my constituents in Stonehouse face and reassure them that everything possible is being done to provide them with a quality service from the £400 million investment?”

Mr Ewing replied: “I am happy to provide Ms Mckelvie with that assurance, and I would be happy to receive more details from her if she wished to provide them.”