SNAILPACE broadband connection is causing significant grief for Wilmslow residents despite national figures claiming areas of the town are among the fastest speeds in the UK.

Internet users in Fulshaw Park are struggling with speeds well below the national average, amongst them a retired doctor who offered her services to help patients online during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month the Government published data showing broadband speeds following an analysis carried out at a time when people rely more than ever on their internet connection.

Areas defined as ‘Lower Super Output Areas’ listed Knutsford North and South Knutsford and Bexton among the top 10 per cent in the UK for average broadband speeds. 

Those areas see average speeds of 73 Mbps and 73.4 Mbps respectively – above the national average of 60.9 Mbps – and the average north west speed of 62.1 Mbps. Handforth and Dean Row are also in the UK’s top 10 per cent with average speeds of 71.6 Mbps.

However, Dr Helen Hosker, of Westminster Drive, described these figures as ‘speeds that we can only dream of’.

Dr Hosker has a copper connection to an OpenReach cabinet more than a mile away on Brook Lane in Alderley Edge and, despite an upgrade in May, says she is still only receiving download speeds of 5.17 Mbps and upload speeds of 0.81 Mbps.

She said: “I work from home answering calls on the National NHS111 Covid Clinical Assessment Service.  

“Fortunately, the software only requires those minimum speeds to function. However, there is talk of introducing video consultations in the future and I definitely would not be able to take advantage of that as my broadband would crash.”

Dr Hosker explained she often has to turn the video function off during Zoom meetings due to distortion and she can’t share important videos during online meetings.

She added: “Downloading large documents including photos takes a long time. As for sending a large document or photos, it is best to leave the computer and go away and make a cup of tea while it tries to send them. Even worse if there is more than one recipient.”

Neighbour Alan Butler, who has been pressing for better connection for years, added: “We are 300 metres from Royal London’s HQ but our broadband speeds – 3 to 9Mbs – place us in the bottom two per cent nationally, far behind many rural areas and my own efforts to achieve any improvement have been a waste of paper, ink and bandwidth.”

Both parties have written to Tatton MP Esther McVey who in turn has written to the parliamentary broadband team and said she will reply to their enquiries as soon as she has a response for them.