ANGRY residents from a West Dorset village will present a petition to council leaders after their community was left out of the latest rollout of superfast broadband.

Every household in Uploders has signed the petition, which will be presented to Dorset County Council on Monday after the village was excluded from benefitting from the improved connection.

Claire Upton collected signatures on behalf of the Uploders Superfast Broadband campaign from all 114 households that were contactable, out of a total of 128 households. 

Of the 114 premises, 57 have a business, work or educational need - requiring a future-proof broadband.

"I knew there were people like me running businesses in the village, but we were very surprised to discover just how many people needed reliable and fast internet for work and educational reasons" said Claire.

"Without it the village may be unable to retain existing businesses and is unlikely to attract more families. In the long term this could devastate the village."

The majority of those asked to sign the petition expressed their need to use the internet for shopping, entertainment and particularly amongst older residents, to keep in touch with their family through email and Skype.

Residents in Loders, which is separated from Uploders by 300 yards of farmland, will be able to benefit from the net roll-out of fibre-optic high speed broadband.

The group are concerned that a requirement to provide fibre optic broadband for only 95 percent of each county, means that smaller communities could be left isolated.

"It is quite deliberate" added Claire. "BT and Dorset Superfast Broadband just had to identify the five percent that might be a little more expensive.

"Public money will only go where profits are biggest and that to most people seems totally the wrong way round."

The group will present their petition to Dorset County Council on Monday (9) at 2pm.

Cllr Ron Coatsworth, who represents Bride Valley at Dorset County Council said a meeting will be held to discuss options available to residents.

"They are angry and you can certainly see why" said Cllr Coatsworth. "But it is a similar story in other clusters across Dorset like Askerswell.

"There are quite a lot of people who are going to be very frustrated - but I'm not entirely sure Dorset County Council have a lot of options.

"Those in the forgotten five percent rely on broadband for their businesses and their livelihoods. But I don't know if there is any additional funding available. There may be improved technology such as satellite and radio - but that could be some way off yet in the future.

"High speed broadband is essential to everyone, particularly in rural areas, and people are obviously going to feel neglected."