A PETITION launched by Mid Devon District Councillor Judi Binks, to highlight the problems of rural broadband speeds and mobile phone coverage, has this week been handed to Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, by Central Devon MP Mel Stride.

More than 500 people signed the petition which describes the problems associated with poor broadband speeds, including online forms and job applications timing out, problems with streaming radio and television programmes and documents failing to download.

Cllr Binks raised the signatures with the help of her husband, Martin, and has been supported by Devon County Councillor Margaret Squires who hosted a meeting between council officers and local parish council leaders last year.

All three campaigners argue that these problems were hampering the local economy and increasing rural isolation.

Cllr Binks explained: “Two issues keep coming up on the doorstep in Sandford, Morchard Bishop, Black Dog and Puddington – the lack of a good internet connection and patchy mobile phone coverage.

“A third of residents do some or all of their jobs from home and say their productivity is held back by slow broadband. Many residents say they would feel less isolated if they could reliably communicate with friends and family via the internet.

“It can also be difficult to contact the emergency services in areas where mobile phone signal is very weak. As our local MP Mel Stride has been very active on both issues over many years we felt he was just the right person to hand our petition to the Minister.”

Mr Stride added: “Poor broadband speeds hold back businesses, hinder social mobility and increase the risk of rural isolation.

“I have spoken in the House of Commons about the need for the Government to put pressure on internet service providers and mobile phone companies to ensure the hardest to reach properties in rural areas are not neglected and I was very pleased to hand over Judi and Margaret’s petition to the minister.”