Rt Hon Claire Perry O’Neill MP joined with local people in Wexcombe and Marten near Marlborough, to celebrate the installation of full fibre broadband to the two hamlets comprising 35 homes and properties - including 2 farms and many small businesses. The broadband connection was delivered through the Openreach Community Fibre Partnership scheme using the Government’s £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme at no cost to the residents and business owners in Wexcombe and Marten.
Since 2010 £1.7billion of funding means that 96% of premises across the UK can now access high speed broadband and the Wiltshire Online programme has ensured connection for over 90,000 premises. Meanwhile the Government is continuing to prioritise high speed broadband developments with a further £5 billion funding announced for Gigabit broadband in the hardest to reach areas.
Claire Perry O’Neill made the acceleration of high-speed broadband roll-out one of her local campaign priorities, when she was elected as the MP, said:
“It’s great news that almost all homes and businesses across the Devizes Constituency can now receive superfast broadband, but there is more to do in the hardest to reach areas, and I’m so pleased that Tim Brew secured the Gigabit Voucher funding and worked with locals and Openreach to make it happen.”
Tim Brew, Wexcombe small business-owner and project co-ordinator, said:
“Previously our broadband was dire and incredibly frustrating for everyone locally, especially the small business owners. Huge thanks to Claire for highlighting this scheme to us – we now have future-proofed full fibre connections which has been life-changing! Organising the project and the interaction with Openreach was easy, and I’m very happy to share my experience with other villages – please do get in touch.”
ENDS
A Case Study about the Wexcombe and Marten Community Fibre Project is at https://www.claireperry.org.uk/campaigns/rapid-rollout-superfast-broadband – together with contact details for Tim Brew.
More information about the Wiltshire Online programme and Alternative Broadband Solutions is at https://www.wiltshireonline.org/
Tamara Reay (01380 729358)