Installing Fibre Broadband in Rattery 

Summary

·          Many properties in Rattery continue to have unsatisfactory broadband connections but already over half of the residential and business premises in Rattery already have access to full fibre broadband.

·          Connecting Devon and Somerset Airband is the county council-led body with responsibility for the rollout of fibre broadband and has appointed Airband as the preferred contractor for further broadband expansion in Rattery. Airband aim to install a network this summer - good news for those without fibre connection.

·          Airband have however failed to liaise effectively with the Parish Council to establish where new fibre is actually required.

·          The Parish Council is now pressing Airband and Connecting Devon and Somerset to take immediate action because Airband's current plans risk duplicating existing provision, causing unnecessary disruption, unnecessarily spoiling the landscape, and wasting public money.

  

Installation of Full Fibre Network by Openreach

 1)    In 2018, following representations from within the community, supported by Rattery Parish Council, Openreach agreed to make full fibre (fibre to the premises) available to large parts of the parish connected to the Buckfastleigh exchange. This provision went live in December 2019. Following further representation, Openreach extended their fibre network to include a further 17 properties that had traditionally been serviced by the South Brent exchange, bringing the total number of premises served to 122.

 2)    The take up of the available superfast broadband service is reported to be higher than average, with contract options provided through a range of Internet Service Providers.

 3)    The Parish Council engaged in discussions with Open reach and anticipated that Openreach would agree to extend their existing fibre network to the remainder of the parish, including a full fibre service to the properties along Colston Road in the Dart Valley. In part this would utilise funding available through the Government’s Gigabit Voucher Scheme.

 4)    However, appointment of a contractor by Connecting Devon and Somerset, to complete the Rural Broadband Programme, removed this option.

 

 Current Situation

 5)    Connecting Devon and Somerset’s Rural Broadband Programme was delayed considerably by the cancellation of the original contract.

 6)    Areas of the parish - principally those connected to the South Brent exchange - have therefore continued to experience poor connectivity. Although there are alternative options in place, either by subscription to Airband’s wireless service or accessing broadband via 4G, neither provide the level of flexibility or resilience of a full fibre service.

 

 Planned Installation of Full Fibre Network by Airband (CDS Contract)

 7)    In 2021, on learning about the appointment of Airband as the new preferred contractor, the Parish Council immediately took steps to engage with them to ensure that there was an awareness of the extent of the existing fibre provision and the areas still waiting to be connected. The Parish Council also contacted the District Council, sharing a listing of properties that are already served by the Openreach network.

 8)    Despite these efforts, it has not proved possible to establish lasting meaningful liaison with Airband representatives, a situation that became more acutely problematical once the list of properties included in their plans came to light. 

 9)    It became clear to the Parish Council that the list of properties to which Airband is working includes a considerable number that already have full fibre provision via the Openreach network. On receipt of the listing, the Parish Council prepared a full analysis which they shared with both Airband, and South Hams District Council, who in turn have shared with Connecting Devon and Somerset. The analysis identifies in detail:

a)    current Openreach provision;

b)    Airband’s proposed provision; and

c)     properties missing from both.  

10) The Parish Council has not, to date, received from Airband any notification of any amendments to their schedule of work resulting from this information. The council remains eager to work with Airband to pool data and ensure the successful completion of their contract within the parish.

  

Immediate Problems associated with the Proposed Works

 11) Notification has been posted by Devon Highways of a number of road closures linked to the installation of new poles and the provision of underground ducting by Airband.

The closures notified to date are:

a)    Culver Lane; 27th-29th April 2022

b)    Penswell Cross to Almshouse Cross; 2nd-6th May 2022

c)     Lower Bulkamore Cross to Brownston Cross; 16th-27th May 2022

d)    Willing Cross to Tigley Cross; 16th-27th May 2022

 

12) Airband Have now published information identifying the location of a large number of new poles to be erected throughout the parish.

 13) Much of this proposed work is completely unnecessary as it involves the installation by Airband of fibre connection to properties that already have fibre connection, provided some time ago by Openreach.

 14) The Parish Council is urging Connecting Devon and Somerset and their contractor, Airband, to take action to avoid:

a)    the disruption and inconvenience caused by unnecessary road closures,

b)    the damage to the highway from unnecessary excavation work,

c)     the damage to the rural landscape resulting from the installation of many unnecessary poles, and

d)    the potential waste of public money resulting from such unnecessary work.

 

15) Parishioners can help by emailing Airband, Connecting Devon and Somerset and Devon County Council to express their concerns. Email addresses below.

 

Our County Councillor is Dan Thomas:  daniel.thomas@devon.gov.uk

Airband:  community.engagement@airband.co.uk

Connecting Devon and Somerset:  enquiries@connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk.

 

Location of proposed new poles for Airband network

We have been sent this link to the map showing where new poles are proposed. We are not confident that it is 100% accurate as some notices about proposed poles have been placed on the ground, for example in Culver Lane, in locations not shown on the map.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ZIN3_ZynqyMOGHh3l4HYmVsYirkpuAf7&usp=sharing