Superfast Fibre Broadband Project for Throwley

Background

Five years ago an average internet download speed in Throwley Parish was around 2Mbps. For many of us it still stays the same or only slightly better. It may be just fine to read an occasional email and to look at a few web pages. However, it does not allow for working from home, using video conferencing, participating in distance learning or watching internet TV. The current Covid-19 crisis has shown how important these services are. They all require higher broadband speeds which cannot be provided far away from a telephone exchange over old copper wires.

Throwley Parish Council (TPC) started the battle for a better broadband in Throwley in the Autumn 2014. We had even made representation to a Parliamentary Committee on this matter. We had achieved only a partial success. In 2017, a 4.8 km long optical fibre line was laid between the Eastling telephone exchange and Throwley Forstal, our largest hamlet. Fibre-enabled broadband services with speeds up to 80Mbs became available to about 50 households. Some of the remaining parts of the Parish subscribed to a wireless broadband service with a shared speed of up to 24Mbs. However, the future is in full fibre broadband, which is reliable and resilient against slow down at peak times or in bad weather. With the fibre enabled cabinet close to the centre of the Parish, the cost of laying fibre cables to the other parts of the Parish are much reduced now.

Opportunity

Our local MP, Helen Whately, has recently notified TPC about new funding being available for broadband community projects in rural areas. This is a KCC top-up voucher scheme https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/broadband/broadband-voucher-schemes/kent-broadband-top-up-voucher to the existing Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/. Individual households will be able to claim up to £5,500 and businesses up to £3,500, with a maximum of £7,000 for combined residential and business vouchers. As far as I can see, all households in the Throwley Parish could qualify and most of the businesses. However, the deadline is very tight – the money needs to be allocated before March 2021.

Appeal

Opportunities like this one do not come often. Fibre is the solution to our current and future broadband needs with speeds up to 1000Mbs. Even if you think you do not personally need superfast broadband, it will add value to your property, as access to the internet is perceived as important as water and electricity. So, please respond positively.

What to do – first step

As a declaration of interest and without any commitment, please email me at [email protected] the following information:

• Name
• Address with a postcode
• Landline number
• Business name(s) (if applicable)
• Mobile number (optional)

What will happen next

I have already registered Throwley’ s interest with KCC and Openreach. I will pass on your details to Openreach who will prepare an indicative costing for the Throwley community, on top of the contribution from Openreach. We will then start detailed negotiations and the planning process. Our aim will be to provide superfast broadband to as many households as possible within the voucher scheme available.

Please pass this information to your neighbours who might not be on the Throwley mailing list.

If you have any questions, please either email me or call me on 01795890934. I am also in the Throwley WhatsApp group.

Please respond before next Tuesday, 17 November, 2020.

Adam Jastrzebski
Vice-Chair Throwley Parish Council