Bristol's Broadband Divide
As parts of Bristol get ready for faster broadband speeds, people in another area of the city say they're being left out.
BT has announced it's going to improve access in Bishopsworth, Eastville, and Stoke Bishop to up to 20 megabits per second by the spring.
That's more than double the maximum speeds previously available to the majority of UK homes and businesses and is delivered through copper lines.
But the Communications Minister Ed Vaizey is writing to BT and Virgin Media asking why people in Bradley Stoke have to put up with much slower speeds - sometimes just 1 megabit.
It's after he attended a meeting with Jack Lopresti, Conservative MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke.
Mr Lopresti said: "I was delighted to be able to not only secure this meeting with Ed Vaizey MP, the new Communications Minister, but also that he agreed to write to both BT and Virgin Media to see exactly why the service isn't better than it is.
"This is such an important issue for so many people in and around Bradley Stoke that it deserves to be treated as one of our priorities.
"This issue has proved to be a real challenge already, and it will take dedication and hard work to ensure that our broadband connections are improved to the proper and deserved standard. Yet that is what we must aim for, and as soon as possible."
Carl Bridson owns BOOT IT PC repairs in Bradley Stoke and says his business is suffering: "Over the past five years there's been no change in the speed of broadband, and if I'm lucky I get 1 Meg.
"In today's terms that is appalling. If there was any improvement to line speed to bring it up to what everyone else is getting I would be more than happy."
Speaking about the rollout of services in some areas Jon Reynolds, BT's South West regional director, said: "This latest major investment in next generation broadband represents a huge BT vote of confidence in the future of the South West.
"It will help ensure that businesses and households in the region are in a strong position to thrive. Faster broadband can help businesses become more competitive and greatly improve the on-line services available to households."
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