WEST Devon villages could get left behind in the race for British Telecom?s Broadband upgrade, even if towns like Tavistock succeed in their bids.

Several business people based in rural communities around Tavistock have been dismayed to find their on-line registration of interest for the package is next to useless, because they are on sub-exchanges of the 01822 network.

As highlighted by the Times in recent articles, 350 registrations of interest are required from Tavistock businesses and residents for BT to consider delivering the upgrade enabling on-line information to travel up to 40 times faster.

At present, the Tavistock exchange has 216 registrations. But even if the town achieves the crucial 350 target, outlying villages like Bere Alston, Yelverton and Mary Tavy may miss out because they must achieve their own separate targets.

Bill Lane, a director of South West Charitable Giving in Mary Tavy, recently logged on to register his interest.

When he later contacted BT, he was surprised to find his registration was not among the 216 logged for the Tavistock exchange.

Instead it was one of just 24 registered separately for Mary Tavy?s 01822 81 exchange.

Mr Lane said: ?As usual with these large organisations it is all hot air and flannel. I can see no way that the Mary Tavy sub-exchange can achieve 350 registrations.

?The same will apply to Yelverton, Bere Alston, Gunnislake, Lydford, Chillaton, Milton Abbot, Postbridge and Princetown.

?Once again those trying to encourage rural development are treated with utter distain by the big conglomerates but what more can you expect? What a con!?

Another Peter Tavy businessman, Peter Jackman, proprietor of Biosystematica, said it was another example of BT?s reluctance to bring Broadband to rural areas.

?I regard it as an insult to smaller communities that the upgrade is so hard to come by. BT are making sure they only install the service in the places which make them the most money.

?Broadband should be a basic requirement for any area and it should be provided as standard, like gas, water and electricity.?

Jason Mann, spokesman for BT, said target levels for registrations were still to be set for areas such as Mary Tavy but the figure would not be as high as 350.

?The number of required registrations of interest varies from area to area,? he said.

?For a small community like Mary Tavy the figure is likely to be somewhere around 200, but it hasn?t been set yet.

?BT is committed to providing the service wherever it is commercially viable, and certainly if there is evidence of sufficient interest in Mary Tavy and other villages serious consideration will be given to installing the upgrade.?

Tavistock Chamber of Commerce this week urged people in the town to register for the broadband upgrade.

Chairman Philip Hartnoll said a great deal of concern was expressed at the chamber?s annual meeting that there were still not enough registrations of interest in broadband for Tavistock.

Mr Hartnoll said: ?There was very strong support for registering, it was literally a unanimous agreement that this is an important issue for the whole of Tavistock and the business community ? it will help Tavistock businesses keep up with the rest of the country.?

Anyone who wants to register an interest in upgrading to broadband, or who wishes find out the precise situation for their exchange or sub-exchange, should visit http://www.bt.com/broadband">www.bt.com/broadband