RESIDENTS from rural areas of South Gloucestershire have welcomed plans for faster broadband internet as previously promised.

South Gloucestershire council have announced that they will provide upgrades to Codrington, Elberton, Little Sodbury, Tytherington, Dyrham, Hinton, Oldbury-Upon-Severn, Cromhall, Littleton-Upon-Severn and the village of Hill.

The council have secured an additional £1.49m investment for BT to carry out additional surveying work and anticipate that an upgraded internet infrastructure called Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) will be implemented by December 2017.

Their proposal states: “FTTP offers superfast broadband speeds over a reliable, fibre connection straight to the subscriber’s premises.”

Cllr John Goddard, chairman of resources sub-committee, said: “This is new technology which we’ve not deployed before but it would provide the best solution for rural communities.”

A spokesman of the Codrington Campaign for better internet, Terry Barnaby, said: “This is excellent news. We and people from other rural areas have been pushing the council for many years.”

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall, said: “I am delighted that after raising this with ministers, and after continuous efforts of local groups, the council has taken this on board.

“I will of course be continuing to press both government and the local programme to go further, but this is a great start.”

Previous updates to the villages used an unsuitable broadband infrastructure for rural areas.

Elberton resident, Andrew Watkins, requires a fast connection to run his IT business and feels let down by the council’s countless promises to address the issue.

The 52-year-old said: “In January 2013 the council guaranteed minimum broadband speeds by 2015 to 100 percent of residents in South Gloucestershire. Council documents show 657 premises here still do not meet the Government’s minimum requirement “The Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme has been a dismal failure in South Gloucestershire.”

The new technology is said to be more reliable so that all properties will receive a good service speed.

Campaigner Mr Barnaby, said: “Whilst this is great news, we wait with baited breath for information on which homes and businesses will actually get the update and when this will be as we have been waiting a long time for this. Also there are still many rural areas in South Gloucestershire that suffer.”

Mr Watkins agreed: “It’s a lottery as to who will receive connection.”

For villages which have missed out in the current rollout, next December the council will launch an invitation to companies to bid for a contract to be provided with further coverage.

Many businesses and organisations have already left South Gloucestershire, and some feel unable to wait.

Rose Green, of Avon Displays, said: “We moved our business from Elberton in June this year after a 10 year struggle with poor internet speeds.

“We are a signs and graphics company and rely on good quality internet. We have had to relocate to Ashville Park in Thornbury.

“The internet here also allows us to have a social media presence to maintain business.”

Owner of Home Leisure Direct, Andy Beresford, 47, signed a lease in 2011 to move into his premises in Elberton when the council assured him that although the broadband connection was poor it would be upgraded soon.

“It is scandalous that we have had to wait almost five years now.

“I have considered moving elsewhere, but I’m still desperately optimistic they will deliver their promise and sort it.”