Connecting Devon and Somerset contract bid frustration

The Connecting Devon and Somerset team is being criticised for the pace of the roll out

Calls are being made to replace the superfast broadband project team for Somerset and Devon due to the pace of the rollout and contract issues.

Connecting Devon and Somerset [CDS] recently rejected a contract bid from BT for part of the second phase of the scheme.

Parish councillor Graham Long said: "It's failed for a second time and I would use the word 'incompetence'."

CDS said re-procurement would take six months, but would not delay the scheme.

'Same struggles'

Mr Long said: "To allow that organisation to go off and attempt to put a contract in place for a third time - well most organisations I know would not allow that to happen."

His criticism has been backed by rural businesses who say they are not getting value for money.

Surveyor Ian Firth, from Churchstanton, moved his firm to Cullompton because of broadband issues.

"I think the majority of people in my part of the world would like a useable broadband service, let alone superfast broadband.

"That is the crux of what CDS have failed to deliver so far," he said.

Deputy leader at Somerset County Council David Hall is on the board of the CDS.

He said superfast broadband had been made available to 170,000 premises across the region so far.

"Many other parts of the country are having the same struggles and our progress in Devon and Somerset with the rollout so far is exceptional," he said.

"We looked very hard at the offer by BT and decided that wouldn't deliver and we needed to go back to the market.

"You can't just award a contract just because you're pushed for time, that would be an extremely unprofessional thing to do."