SENIOR Liberal Democrats have lashed out at a county council decision to withdraw broadband funding from the Cotswolds.

But the leader of Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) hit back at the claims, saying the £500,000 grant was being withheld temporarily while the Cotswolds decides whether to breakaway from the rest of the county.

Under the unprecedented breakaway plans announced earlier this month, Cotswold District would leave GCC and join up under one banner with West Oxfordshire.

The Cotswold Lib Dems said the move showed a split in the county’s Conservatives after Cotswold District Council (CDC) leader Lynden Stowe sprung the news on his county council counterpart Mark Hawthorne at the 11th hour.

CDC Lib Dem leader Joe Harris said: "Regardless of your views on the formation of a joint council with West Oxon, it is a disgrace that the Conservatives have let an internal party dispute derail the rollout of super-fast broadband in the Cotswolds.

"One of the reasons people get so hacked off with politicians is that narrow party interest is often put before the best interests of local people, it is clear that this is a glaring example of this."

His thoughts were echoed by fellow Lib Dem district councillor and Cirencester mayor Mark Harris who said many businesses in the area were desperate for high-speed broadband.

“Gloucestershire County Council does not send the message that it cares about the Cotswolds by throwing its toys out of the pram like this. Gloucestershire Conservatives need to grow up.”

Broadband speeds have been a hot topic in the Cotswolds, particularly after a Cable.co.uk study found Cotswold village Miserden had the slowest internet in the country.

GCC leader Cllr Hawthorne said: “Cllr Harris needs to get his facts straight. We’ve not removed any funding, and, once Cotswold District Council has concluded its governance review, we look forward to continuing this project.

“Cotswolds was the first area in Gloucestershire where the Fastershire contract completed, and the county council has already allocated £3m in partnership with BDUK to Gigaclear to provide even more access to broadband in the district.”