Call for high speed broadband after years of ‘broken promises’

A frustrated Fife councillor has called for assurances that constituents will receive upgraded broadband following a string of “broken promises”.

Labour councillor Neil Crooks, convener of Kirkcaldy Area Committee, said he had been trying for several years to ensure residents in the north of the town had access to high speed fibre broadband.

Mr Crooks claimed people in the area suffered some of the slowest internet speeds in Fife.

Broadband provider BT Openreach has insisted it has plans to complete the upgrade by the end of this month but Mr Crooks remains sceptical.

“I have been trying to get the upgrade for north Kirkcaldy for several years,” he said.

“Various promises have been made and broken over that period. BT informed people in Kirkcaldy north in January this year that their broadband would be upgraded within nine months at most. It has not happened.”

He added: “I followed that up today and was informed that BT Openreach will be completing the upgrade of cabinet 52 by October 30.

“This should mean the availability of fibre broadband by the end of November.

“I’m sure this will be welcomed by the people of Kirkcaldy north who suffer some of the slowest speeds in Fife.

“I’m still wary that yet another date has been set which may once again be missed but it’s important the people in our ward know I am continuing to pursue a solution to their broadband issues.”

A spokesman for BT Openreach said: “We hope to have this new cabinet stood before the end of this month as part of our commercial rollout.”