DWYFOR Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts has accused the UK Government of breaking its promise to rural communities by scrapping its plans to install eight not-spot masts.

When the Mobile Infrastructure Project project was first announced, there were plans to erect eight masts in several ‘not-spot’ locations across the Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency to boost mobile signal in areas where commercial providers weren’t operating, including Pen Llyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Dolgellau, and Dinas Mawddwy. Now it’s expected that a total of only 40 masts will be delivered under the UK-wide project – none in Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

Following enquiries by Mrs Saville Roberts, Arqiva, the company awarded the contract by the UK Government to carry out the £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project, has confirmed that no masts will be erected in Dwyfor Meirionnydd citing technical challenges.

Mrs Saville Roberts said: “It’s unacceptable that rural areas such as parts of Pen Llyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolgellau in Dwyfor Meirionnydd will miss out again.

The UK Government has said that the project deadline won’t be extended beyond March 2016, but I hope they recognise their duty to all rural communities, and provide additional support for areas which aren’t covered by the commercial mobile rollout.

“Rural communities such as parts of Dwyfor Meirionnydd are calling out for better connectivity. Increasing mobile connectivity will support business growth, extend access to key public services, which are increasingly being delivered online, and bring an improvement for mobile customers in rural areas.

“Upgrading mobile infrastructure in rural areas is crucial to ensuring that the rural economy is not further disadvantaged. The current situation evidently puts businesses at a disadvantage and may make potential employers think twice about investing in such areas.

“Given that Dwyfor Meirionnydd comprises the most mountainous parts of England and Wales, topography inevitably plays a part in the delivery of mobile technology. But this should not be a barrier for Government investment.

“It should be appreciated that people living in rural areas like many parts of Dwyfor Meirionnydd, find the slow progress of mobile network roll-out is aggravated by all-round poor connectivity.

“It’s vital we get an undertaking from the Government that not-spot areas missing out under the current MIP scheme are given an assurance of future investment in mobile connectivity.”