Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Broadband for Llanfynydd and Cil-y-cwm

Following a joint campaign between Mid and West Wales AM Nerys Evans,Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas and the local community council it has been announced today that the villages of Llanfynydd and Cil-y-cwm will now receive broadband. Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones announced that the two so called ‘notspot’ areas in Carmarthenshire are to be tackled so that residents and local businesses can make use of broadband internet services.

Over the last few months Nerys has registered up to 100 people who can’t receive broadband in these villages with the Welsh Assembly RIBS scheme.This has ensured that Llanfynydd and Cil-y-cwm are two of only four ‘notspot’ areas in Wales that will be broadband enabled this year. The aim is to complete the work by the end of the summer.

Plaid AM Nerys Evans , who is chair of the assembly cross party group on broadband in rural Wales said:

“I’m pleased to hear that this campaign has been successful. When you consider that only four villages throughout Wales will be receiving broadband this time around it’s fantastic news that two of those villages are here in Carmarthenshire. I’d like to thank everybody that returned the RIBS registration forms to us because that has ensured that Llanfynydd and Cil-y-cwm have been prioritised for this work. The response we had to the questionnaires showed how important this issue is to people in the area.   Everybody who responded wanted to have access to broadband and it is obvious that the lack of broadband at the moment seriously affects the local economy.

“Local companies have told me that it was impossible for them to communicate effectively or purchase goods online while working parents said that it was impossible for them to work from home.   Therefore this is excellent news and I’d like to congratulate the minister on his hard work with this issue. “

Carmarthen East and Dinerfwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“This is excellent news for the communities of Llanfynydd and Cil-y-cwm.It is quite shocking that pockets of Carmarthenshire still have to make do without decent broadband services. Whilst other parts of Wales can take broadband for granted the service is still out of reach for many residents in our rural areas. This will be a huge boost to the local residents and businesses.”

The Deputy First Minister for the Economy and Transport Ieuan Wyn Jonessaid:

“Access to the digital world is crucial in a modern global economy and we cannot afford to leave anybody behind. This is why we have committed to finding ways for the relatively few areas in Wales that remain unable to access broadband. “There is no doubt that high-speed internet service is vital for communities in every part of the country. Top broadband links are vital for developing the knowledge economy, improving the ability of businesses and individuals to network and innovate. “Not only is fast web access a feature of many households – but it is essential that businesses are fully equipped with first-class ICT infrastructure to compete successfully in a global market. And in line with the goals we set in the One Wales agreement, I want to see communities in rural areas sharing fully in the benefits.”

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