RESIDENTS and traders in the remaining areas of Darlington borough without superfast broadband have been put at the “back of the queue”, and face paying hundreds of pounds for a service the majority of others get free, a meeting has heard.

Frustration over delays in the introduction of superfast fibre cables spilled over as Darlington Borough councillors quizzed the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TCVA) boss overseeing the technological advances.

TCVA economic strategy and intelligence manager Keith Wilson told the council’s place scrutiny committee while he remained confident more than 98 per cent of the borough would have superfast broadband, he still could not say where it would be available.

Mr Wilson told councillors Darlington “had to take its turn towards the back of the queue”, behind Middlesbrough, Stockton and Cleveland.

He said lengthy negotiations, firstly between the authority and BT and then between the Government and BT, had delayed the superfast project by more than a year”.

Speaking to Mr Wilson, Councillor Joe Kelley said: “You told me you are at the end of the queue, but you should have broadband in Hurworth and Neasham by May 2019. I promised them that. I went to the parish council meetings and said it’s taken a long time and it’s coming. And now you are telling me BT have turned round and said ‘Go away, we’re not bothered with you.”

The meeting heard areas outlined for the superfast fibre cables included Redworth, Hurworth and Piercebridge, but only the west side of village with a population of about 110.

Councillor Alan Coultas: “It’s a small village and I found that quite surprising that only one side of the village was going to be dealt with. How has that decision been arrived at?”

Mr Wilson said he could not guarantee which villages would receive superfast broadband, adding: “There is always a degree of ambiguity about overall coverage until they do the site investigation and go and open up the cabinet.”

He said for those not covered, there would be schemes such as the Use Of Better Broadband programme, costing up to £400.

Councillor Lorraine Tostevin said: “I find it absolutely astounding that you are going to ask residents in Darlington and rural villages, some of the poorest areas in some respects, to contribute towards broadband when the rest of Darlington are going to get it free. I think it’s unbelievable.” Mr Wilson replied: “There’s finite resources and we have in essence turned to a market solution. We are trying to maximise coverage.”

The meeting also heard claims that the lack of progress and confusion over the project was due to Government failings.