This month our local London Assembly member Val Shawcross (Labour, Southwark & Lambeth) tabled the following question to Mayor of London Boris Johnson:

Are you prepared to take steps as Mayor of London, working with BT and other relevant agencies, to progress the roll out of improved broadband speeds in the Rotherhithe area?

The mayor’s reply has just been published:

Officers at the GLA are working very closely with all the relevant agencies to deliver a step-change in the London connectivity to drive economic growth and jobs.

My office will be happy to help facilitate any discussions between the Rotherhithe communities and Broadband providers to ensure their views are taken into account.

The Super Connected Cities Plan (SCCP) is largely focussed on a demand led voucher scheme to encourage the take up of ultrafast broadband amongst high growth SMEs across all London boroughs including SME’s in Rotherhithe area.

However the Mayor’s reply to a similar question tabled by the Green Party’s Darren Johnson AM offered some hope for local businesses but was less helpful so far as residents are concerned:

The Super Connected Cities Plan (SCCP) is now largely focussed on a demand led voucher scheme to encourage the take up of ultrafast broadband amongst high growth SMEs across all London boroughs including SME’s in Rotherhithe area. It will be ensured that SSCP scheme is promoted in Rotherhithe area so that all eligible SME’s can participate.

While I understand the frustration that some Rotherhithe constituents experience over the speed of their internet access, currently we are unable to intervene directly in matters relating to residential broadband connectivity.

The GLA will next year be looking to publish a document looking at Long Term Infrastructure in London, which will include a section on broadband and I know my team drafting that section will be looking at the situation in Rotherhithe closely.

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