A PETITION has been launched to connect Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft with better broadband.

Councillors Chris Vobe, Matt Smith and Joan Grime say residents have struggled with poor internet connections and slow download speeds for months.

BT Openreach and Connecting Cheshire have promised that the green cabinets throughout the area will be upgraded so that every household can access fibre broadband.

But many homes have been left out.

Latest figures show that less than 100 properties have access to fibre broadband and Hob Hey residents have been told that upgrades have been delayed until March 31 next year.

Cllr Vobe said: "The current situation just isn’t good enough. We want clarity from BT and Connecting Cheshire about when their services will be provided.

"They’ve managed to provide fibre broadband to remote areas like Kielder Forest Park in Northumberland — so why can’t they do the same in Culcheth, Glazebury and Croft?"

Cllr Smith added: "We are determined to stand up for our villages and make sure they are left in no doubt how important good quality broadband is for people who live here.

"Helen Jones MP, Chris, Joan and I will be calling for a meeting with senior managers at BT to deliver our petition and put pressure on them to deliver a better service."

Connecting Cheshire, a partnership of four Cheshire councils, and BT have so far made superfast broadband available to 2,500 homes and businesses in Croft, Glazebury and Culcheth

A spokesman said: "We are now deciding where the next 10,000 homes and business to have access to the digital age will be in the next phase of the programme.

"There is still some planning to do but we should be letting people know in October.

"We have to take into account the geography, the distance from the existing network and the demand before making those decisions.

"Croft, Glazebury and Culcheth will be considered in a fair way along with the other places that have not yet been reached by superfast broadband.

"It is important to note that 96 per cent of the county will have access to the network by the end of the year and we are jointly making every effort to ensure that the maximum people benefit from this vital technology."

- Residents who want to add their name to the petition can do so by visiting warringtonlabour.com or email Cllr Vobe at chrisvobe@googlemail.com.