Villagers are demanding the Government invest in rural broadband infrastructure to end the internet ‘apartheid’ between town and country.

Some areas within the HD8 postcode now have a fast broadband connection, similar to that of neighbouring urban areas.

But outlying villages, including Bird’s Edge, Upper Cumberworth, Upper Denby and sections of Denby Dale and Shepley, are still struggling with slow, outdated connections.

Villagers and councillors have been campaigning for more than eight years for BT to improve the network – and for the Government to invest in the area’s broadband infrastructure.

It is thought BT has declined to upgrade the area’s infrastructure because it is not commercially viable.

And it is believed Virgin – the other main provider of fibre optic broadband – is not interested in the area for similar reasons.

Campaigners have tried to take advantage of several subsidy schemes, such as the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), but so far to no avail.

Upper Cumberworth resident Graham Sykes has been fighting for a fit-for-purpose broadband connection since moving to the village in 2007.

He struggles with a 1Mbps (megabyte per second) connection when the UK average is now closer to 19Mbps, with urban areas regularly hitting over 30Mbps.

Retired Mr Sykes said: “Although we are on the edge of a vast conurbation, BT Wholesale and Virgin have no plans for our area and indeed only improve provision where there is competition between them so as to keep their share.

“Here, where I live, there is no incentive for them to do anything.”

Mr Sykes added: “When an article appears on the BBC, there is mention of BDUK and... the efforts to connect 95%. What this ignores is the increasing apartheid between us – who have to grovel – and those who get a better service.”

Denby Dale councillor Graham Turner has been trying to obtain fast broadband for his ward for years.

Clr Graham Turner

The Labour member said: “It’s appalling. People should have decent broadband but because it’s a commercially driven network there’s going to be problems...

“The Government should be doing something about this. They’re building roads and motorways – why can’t they invest in an information superhighway?”

A spokeswoman for the Government funded Superfast West Yorkshire project said: “We are sorry to hear about the concerns of residents in these areas and we understand their frustrations around wanting to get access to superfast broadband.

“All these areas fall into Kirklees who were not included in the original roll out of phase one of the Superfast West Yorkshire Project.

“There are ongoing discussions around whether or not a phase two stage of the project will come forward and we will be working with all local authorities to make sure we look at areas which were not covered in the our first stages of the roll out.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the Government department responsible for broadband investment, said: “We know how important a fast internet connection is, which is why we are investing more than £1.7bn in rolling out superfast broadband to those areas of the UK who can’t already get it.

“The £11m the Government is investing in West Yorkshire will see the country get 97% coverage – making it one of the best connected counties in the UK and we’re already trialling ways to extend the rollout to the remaining homes and businesses.”

A spokesperson for Virgin Media said: “People who want better broadband can register their interest with us at virginmedia.com/cablemystreet so we can review opportunities to connect new communities.”

The Examiner contacted BT. The company did not respond.

A few miles away in Dunford Bridge residents say they have given up trying to put their village on the fast broadband network.

A spokesperson for Broadband for Dunford Bridge Action group said: “The feeling is that as it’s not commercially viable to upgrade the communications infrastructure in our area, then it won’t happen.”