Gearing up for speed up

Well, it's been quite a while since I last posted on this topic. Back in July following a meeting I had up at County Hall I was told that we would be getting the detailed plans for BT's superfast broadband rollout. This information would have enabled us to identify the premises in Stocksfield earmarked for the upgrade and those which were not.

I had hoped to present a summary of this information at September's Stocksfield Festival but, unfortunately, even now in November I have still not had sight of BT's plans for our area. Since then a map has been published which I have reproduced in miniature below. You can see the full size version at http://www.inorthumberland.org.uk/wp-content/themes/inorth/img/map.png. However, even when viewed at maximum size there is insufficient detail to be able to see what parts of Stocksfield and its environs will be getting what.

The best I can say at this stage is that it looks like a decent chunk of the Stocksfield exchange area will be getting the superfast broadband by the end of 2014 (and possibly by mid-year), but that's about as much as we can say. The other information I do know is that the broadband solution we will be getting is fibre to the cabinet (abbreviated to FTTC ). The alternative to this would have been fibre to the premises (FTTP) but as this would involve running fibre optic cables past every house it was unlikely to be cost effective in our area.

There are two questions people might have about this:  what is a cabinet? and what will fibre to the cabinet mean to me? I'll deal with these questions in the next post.

BT's superfast plans for Stocksfield

On Wednesday I went to County Hall in Morpeth for a meeting with the County Council's chief executive, Steve Stewart, and our MP, Guy Opperman to discuss how plans for superfast broadband are going across Northumberland.

In previous updates I have stated that we expect only 75% of the Stocksfield exchange area to benefit from the superfast fibre that will be laid by BT over the next couple of years. On Wednesday I learnt that we will soon (in the next couple of weeks) be getting sight of BT's actual rollout plans which means we will be able to see just what proportion of the Stocksfield are will be getting the fibre broadband and which homes and businesses will need an alternative solution. This will give us a much better idea of where we need to focus our efforts over the coming months.

As soon as I get the information I will look at ways of sharing it as widely as possible. I have arranged a stall at the Stocksfield Festival where representatives from the Northumberland Community Development Network and iNorthumberland will be joining me to let people know about the services available to local people and businesses to help them make the most of the superfast broadband revolution. I aim to be able to show the planned BT fibre provision there too. More information on that nearer the time.

Walk on by? The day I became a traffic cone.

Today, as I was driving home from the petrol station, I noticed a car stopped in the road opposite the Branch End play area. A man and a woman were tending to an elderly woman who was lying half-on/half-off the pavement. I parked up and went to check whether they needed help, whether an ambulance had been called, etc. As expected, all the necessary calls had been made, an ambulance was on its way, and someone had even informed the Branch End surgery in case somebody there could assist. The woman, it seems, had tripped on the curb and banged her head. The man was holding the her hand and gently reassuring her. The other helper told me that when she stopped to help the old lady she had noticed that many cars had simply driven on past. This troubled me as I thought we lived in a friendly and caring place. It is possible, of course, that some of those who failed to stop didn't even notice the person lying in the gutter, but I don't really find that to be credible.

Shortly after a GP from the surgery showed up and began to do the usual checks.  As he did this he asked me to stand out in the road a little way to prevent any passing cars from clipping him while he worked. "Okay", I thought, "I know how to do that". He was doing fine when, a few minutes later, a solo paramedic arrived. The doctor immediately deferred to the newcomer, acknowledging that the paramedic was more qualified to assist as he deals with this sort of thing every day. Once the hand over was complete the GP returned to the surgery knowing the right expert was providing the right assistance. Shortly thereafter two further people from the GP's surgery turned up and set about determining how to get in touch with the lady's daughter who lives in the village. Then an ambulance arrived and the woman was moved into one of the emergency vehicles for further triage before being taken to hospital for an x-ray. My job done I moved back onto the pavement. The two concerned people who first assisted the woman, seeing that they were no longer needed, said their goodbyes and departed to go about whatever it was they were originally on their way to do.

So, although people drove by and didn't stop to help, two good-hearted people did. And because of that, professional assistance was sought, and the woman who tripped and fell got the expert help she needed. Perhaps people don't stop because they feel they don't know what they can do to help. I initially wondered that myself, but then I realised that I could at least call an ambulance. Don't let not knowing what to do prevent you from helping. Do what you DO know how to do and then leave the rest to the professionals. Sometimes you just have to know when to be a traffic cone.

Result! The kind of rejection I enjoy!

This evening I joined around 20 or so residents in the council chamber in Hexham to witness the planning committee make a decision about the New Ridley application. Very good objections were made by Janice Wilkinson on behalf of the community and Cllr Anne Dale on behalf of the Parish Council. The applicant made a presentation in favour of the development, but it was not very convincing.

Cllr Tony Reid from Prudhoe made the most interesting contribution to the debate when he announced that he came to the meeting expecting to support the application but after he saw the details felt that it would be inappropriate. You can imagine the relief in the room when, despite the planning officer's initial recommendation of conditional approval, the planning committee voted unanimously to reject the application.

Of course, we  must wait to see what the developers will do next. On their way out they were overheard saying they would wait six months and put in another application. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. This evening is for celebrations. I joined a few locals in the Dr Syntax afterwards for a small glass of bubbly.

Plaudits go to all who wrote letters of objection, signed the petition, posed for photographs, turned up to the public meetings, fed in material to inform Janice's speech, who attended this evening's meeting, and who provided moral support all the way through.

New Ridley: Decision Day

I have just received notification from the County Council this morning that the New Ridley application WILL be heard at the West Area Planning Committee on Wednesday 17 July at 6pm in the Council Chamber at Prospect House, Hexham.

The meeting is open to members of the public so it will be great to see lots of people there.

New Ridley: Site Visit

The Planning Committee carried out a site visit at New Ridley yesterday. From all accounts they asked pertinent questions and seem to have a grasp of the situation.

Now we just need to wait for confirmation of when the application will go to the West Area Planning Committee. I originally indicated that this would happen on 17 July, but it turns out that has not been confirmed. As soon as I know the date I will post here.

Broadband Demand? It's super fast!

In the next week or so copies of NE43 news should be dropping onto Stocksfield door mats. In it you will find a leaflet about superfast fibreoptic broadband which will be coming to Stocksfield as part of the major upgrade of Northumberland's broadband infrastructure. Because it is probable that a significant number of properties in our area (up to 25%) will not be covered by the upgrade it is vital that we get a sense of the likely demand for superfast broadband. This is because if we can demonstrate high demand then iNorthumberland will be in a strong position to secure funding for alternative broadband solutions.

Therefore, when you get the information leaflet PLEASE register your interest in having faster broadband. The more people who indicate interest, the more leverage we will have in ensuring that everybody in the Stocksfield area has access to the next generation of broadband technology. The leaflet outlines some of the benefits of superfast broadband compared with what we have now. 

If you're concerned that faster broadband means more scope for online danger for you or your children, then fear not as I am working with iNorthumberland to find ways to raise awareness for residents of how to stay safe online.

The information leaflet has a tear off slip which you can drop in the collection box in Boots at Branch End (just on the right as you go in), or at the Parish Office at SICA. If you do not want to wait for the leaflet or prefer to register your interest online then you can do so on iNorthumberland's Stocksfield web page.

Be assured that registering interest in superfast broadband does not commit you in any way to purchasing a contract when it becomes available or to signing up with a particular supplier. This exercise is about gauging likely demand.