HOUSEHOLDS on a new housing estate in Bicester have hit out at developers and BT as their wait for high-speed broadband goes on.

The Kingsmere Residents’ Association claim developers promised them faster broadband more than two years ago.

They say slow internet connections and delays installing phone lines are hitting people who work from home and affecting children doing their homework.

Group co-chairman Graham Brogden said: “We are going around in circles and have been for two years.

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“It’s incredibly frustrating. A lot of people work from home these days.”

“Some people who moved in two months ago are still without a phone line. They are cut off. What if they need to dial 999? It’s really bad.”

The group said it had lobbied developers David Wilson Homes, Bellway, Bovis and Taylor Wimpey for 18 months, as well as landowners Countryside, but to no avail.

There are currently 450 homes on the estate, opposite Bicester Village, and there are plans to take the total as high as 2,000.

Estate residents said they formed their association when BT Openreach said it would not deal with individual households, only a community group.

Resident Fiona Chalk said: “There was a huge presumption that because it was a brand new estate that [high-speed broadband] would be included.

“My husband works from home and it’s a real problem when he has to be on conference calls by video. Part of my two children’s homework is on the internet and when it’s unresponsive children lose interest.”

Mrs Chalk said: “We did a residents survey in September and there was a clear indication that people expected the service should be in place.”

A spokesman for Bovis Homes said: “We are discussing the upgrading of the existing network with BT, and while we will continue to work hard on behalf of our customers we cannot make guarantees with regard to the services of third-party providers.”

A spokesman for Countryside Properties said they had installed the ducting for broadband in 2010 and that it was up to BT.

BT did not respond to a request for comment.

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