Yet Shropshire Council Conservatives decided to spend £51m to buy shopping centres in Shrewsbury, for a very short-term gain, in a sector that is undergoing massive change. Void and empty shops are increasing, retails are going into administration. Retail footfall is reducing as people shift to shopping online.

Our town centres & the retail sector is facing massive cost pressures from Brexit, rising rents, business rates & online shopping are all having an impact.

BT and Openreach are split into two companies. Cameron’s 2020 pledge abandoned falling back to USO in rural areas. BT Openreach misses their 2.5m target – only 10% had 24mbps 2016: MPs report 5.7m broadband customers not getting 10mbps. History of Broadband 2000: BT launched broadband 2006: BT Openreach formed 2008: Broadband takes off & Fibre broadband is launched 2009: 50% of people have access to broadband & government promises broadband for all 2009: Coalition / BT Openreach pledges 24mbps for 90% by 2015 2011: first Gigabit service in the UK 2013: Government delayed 24mbps pledge to 2017 for 95% – 86% were getting over 10mbps 2015: Cameron launched Universal Service Obligation (USO) to gaurentee access for all by 2020. As a County Councillor, I also worked to see the roll-out of Broad Places to increase access to better speeds in dead areas. It arrived in May 2003 after campaigning for over 3 years. David Walker campaigning for better broadband by a BT cabinet in West Felton Many moons ago – 15 years ago to be exact – when I was a Councillor for Bridgnorth, I campaigned long and hard to get broadband to Bridgnorth.

Hello, New York City! by David Walker