FARMING leaders fear the lack of broadband in Meirionnydd is a huge problem for rural businesses.

To highlight the problem of a lack of broadband in Wales, the Meirionnydd branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales held a farm visit on Friday, June 10 at Brynuchaf, Llanymawddwy, near Dinas Mawddwy.

Farmers in the county have described the lack of broadband as a major problem especially when it comes to RPW online, VAT online, and BCMS.

FUW member Sion Ifans, who hosted the event and whose property has extremely poor connection, said: “We recognise the many benefits of completing essential paperwork online, but there is still a persistent problem for our rural communities that needs to be addressed urgently.

“The range of services and opportunities which are exclusively available through the internet has grown significantly over the past decade, and access to broadband is now regarded as a necessity by the majority of UK businesses and households.

“However, with access to broadband still well below the national average in many of our rural areas, and farm businesses representing the highest proportion of those with no broadband access, it is essential that the limitations of online services and communications are recognised, and that rural access to broadband is increased.”

In addition, those who are letting self-catering cottages are placed at a significant disadvantage, as WIFI availability is now required to successfully market their businesses.

Huw Jones, the union’s county executive officer for Meirionnydd, said: “Children are unable to access broadband for their school or college work and anyone who wishes to work from home or explore diversification enterprises, are finding themselves in unfavourable circumstances.

“Moreover, given the rate at which the rules relating to agriculture change, and the penalties associated with breaching those rules, it is essential that such changes are either communicated to the industry in an accessible format, either by retaining paper copies or making sure that each and every single household has access to the internet.

“It is vital that the limited extent of broadband access in many of Wales’ rural communities is recognised by our administrations and that they do their utmost to ensure no business is placed at a disadvantage as a result of the move to online services.

“A lot of work has been done over the past four years to improve services for broadband access and a lot of money has been invested by Welsh Government to improve the ‘superfast’ service – however that service is still not reaching all farmers and other rural businesses across Wales”.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News