TWO years after BT announced its plans to provide superfast fibre broadband in Tavistock, some of the town is now benefiting from the service, some is due to be connected over the next year — but some premises in the centre of town may never be able to access it. After Tavistock had been announced as part of BT's £2.5-billion commercial investment to provide superfast broadband, Openreach was active in the town, laying ducting and standing new fibre cabinets, which supply copper-fed cabinets with fibre direct from the telephone exchange. Some 2,000 premises — business and residential — have been able to connect to a fibre cabinet. This activity stopped however, when the land owner on which 'cabinet number 1' stands in Church Lane, was not happy to give permission for a fibre cabinet to be installed. Town and borough councillor John Sheldon, who leads on broadband matters in the town, said: 'Cabinet 1 stands outside the original Tavistock Telephone Exchange and serves a large number of businesses and residents in the centre of town. 'It is disappointing they are not able to access what would be superfast broadband. Obviously the decision is the land owner's and I have to respect that.' The roll-out is set to continue in other parts of the town which are due to be ready by March, but Cllr Sheldon said this could be pushed back to a later date, and for the time being will not include cabinet 1. 'It is likely at this time that the roll-out will recommence and cabinet 1 will be left out. 'It appears doubtful that another location for cabinet 1 will be found any time soon to allow it to be upgraded. 'This is a major disappointment for businesses and residents alike. It strikes at the town's economy.' Tavistock Enterprise Hub (TEH) is one of the businesses in the town centre which connects to cabinet 1, and will not be getting super fast broadband. Director John Dixon said: 'TEH provides office accommodation for a range of small businesses, many of whom rely on broadband for their livelihoods. 'They include website creators, graphic designers and publishers. Without fast broadband speeds, we are unable to attract further creative businesses or make full use of our meeting facilities which has a knock-on effect on the viability of the hub and its positive impact on other businesses in the town centre. 'We need a quick resolution to this issue.' From maps recently released by Connecting Devon and Somerset, all Tavistock cabinets outside the commercial investment will be evaluated for funding to enable them to be upgraded to fibre. This includes cabinets in Whitchurch and Lamerton. Cllr Sheldon added: 'I expect every cabinet from the Tavistock BT Exchange, barring number 1, to be upgraded to fibre, together with a new fibre cabinet for the majority of exchange-only lines which currently serve premises without passing through a street cabinet. 'It is hoped that the funding from Connecting Devon and Somerset is used at the same time Openreach completes the BT commercial cabinets, to complete those that need to be funded. 'It is common sense but it may not suit the paper plan of Connecting Devon and Somerset — in reality, time is ticking away to deliver that project.'