Broadband connectivity in North Devon has been a big concern for residents, and was voiced repeatedly during the December election campaign to MP, Selaine Saxby. Since her election Selaine has written to Openreach, Ofcom and the Minister to clarify what is being done to ensure that the connectivity agenda at Westminster includes North Devon, and that where there are gaps in our broadband speeds they are being addressed.
Concerned by the initial response from Openreach that upcoming south west projects were all outside of North Devon, she met with Clive Selley, Chief Executive of Openreach at Westminster on the 12th February, explained the issue, and invited him to meet her in the constituency. Clive brought a team of engineers, including the Chief Engineer, to Barnstaple on the 21st where they have agreed a plan to progress broadband installations and ensure solutions are sought for hard to reach rural areas.
Selaine said of the meeting:
“I was delighted Clive was able to accommodate my request to visit North Devon so rapidly. I am confident we have agreed an outline schedule of works that will eliminate some of the spots in Barnstaple that are currently without high speed, fibre broadband; develop a workable solution for villages in the constituency which can be rolled out to other communities, including digging fibre into farms not far from where the fibre passes. There are also non-fibre solutions which are improving all the time which I am sure will offer alternatives for some of our most rural spots. Having met the senior team, and understood better how the technology works I look forward to working closely with them as we move these projects forward.”
