Sir, – I recently read that a survey is to be done by Digital Durham regarding the standards of broadband in County Durham.

In Wensleydale, I imagine the standards are still quite poor, in spite of the continued presence of Openreach.

Is this because the Leyburn Exchange is now so outdated that it is not up to the job of even providing an adequate telephone service? Middleham has suffered greatly from broadband disappearing, either altogether or occasionally. Telephone lines are poor and there is a lot of interference when speaking.

Now that almost everything is done www even this letter would have been emailed – if only my internet was responding. Perhaps there could be some local official one could speak to and be given helpful information?

If Digital Durham can do this, why not a Digital Leyburn or Richmond. I understand from Middleham Town Council's clerk that they are not allowed to collect names of residents who could be affected. Middleham itself has suffered for many months as an attempt has been made to install fibre optics – what has happened to Openreach in Middleham who seem to have disappeared elsewhere, leaving no trace behind? No fibre optics installed, just chalk marks on the cobbles!

BT India are so far away they cannot offer a solution. Servers aren't helpful. We need a local spokesperson. Does North Yorkshire County Council hold the answers, did it receive any monetary assistance towards the improvement of broadband services in the Dales?

Maybe Joe Willis could write an interesting article about the Trouble with broadband?

AUDREY E WAUDBY (Mrs)

Middleham, Leyburn.