THE MP for Dwyfor and Meirionnydd has given a ‘cautious’ welcome to additional broadband money.

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts was responding to the announcement of extra funding for improving broadband in rural Wales.

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency is recognised as having amongst the worst internet speeds in the UK and Mrs Saville Roberts has been actively lobbying the Welsh and UK Governments for greater investment in mobile and broadband connectivity across her constituency.

The Wales Office has announced it is providing an additional £56m for broadband rollout in Wales, acknowledging that Welsh communities were not being upgraded as quickly as those in England.

Mrs Saville Roberts said she was encouraged that the British Government acknowledged the urgent need for additional investment but cautiously welcomed the funding, citing a series of delays and a history of broken promises that consumers have experienced.

Mrs Liz Saville Roberts said: “Whilst my constituents desperately want their broadband upgraded, what they really want is to see providers give them a firm date for improvements and to honour that date. Far too many communities, such as Rhydymain in Meirionnydd and other rural areas, have been promised upgrades only to see those dates delayed and delayed again.

“Dwyfor Meirionnydd is amongst the worst areas for average download speeds across the entire UK. This is a damning report card for both Welsh and UK governments which have prioritised easy-to-reach areas first – areas which already had very good broadband - to the detriment of rural Wales.

“I will be seeking further information from the government on this additional funding but my campaign will continue until each and every one my constituents has access to the connectivity that other modern economies and countries take for granted.”