Residents of a techie disposition may find this interesting:
I am hopeful that if enough of us respond, the possibility of extending the high speed areas will be considered. I have suggested to WSCC that the NGA patches are extended to Clappers Lane, Holmbush Lane, and central Fulking. If you need something clarified, it might be worth telephoning Diane Williams at WSCC: 01243 777100.
Andrew Iversen (andrew.iversen@gmail.com)
A recent press release from the SDNPA claims that “additional funding for 2015/16 will deliver a series of innovative new initiatives such as .. Wi-Fi on rural bus services”.
What more justification could you need for the purchase of a shiny new 17″ laptop to perch on your knee as you travel to Horsham on the No 17? Answer: a lot.
Wi-Fi-on-rural-bus-services is crazy talk and it isn’t going to happen. If you need convincing, read on.
Lionel Barnard, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services WSCC, has a a new letter [PDF] relating progress in the West Sussex broadband roll-out. There is nothing in it to interest Fulking residents. They haven’t even started the network planning yet.
Gulu Sibanda, Principal Community Officer, West Sussex County Council writes :-
Please be advised that there is now a new website to help promote the benefits of better, faster broadband and therefore giving people information about what is happening and where.
A key feature is the interactive map which details activity by exchange area. As the network is being developed, we will update the map to show where work is being carried out and when new broadband services will become available. Initially the information that we can share on the map will be minimal but once we announce the roll out (before Easter) then it should become a useful visual tool for people to see progress in their area.
The website also has a short animation explaining the technology we will use as well as information about the benefits of better, faster broadband. Users can check the availability of broadband to their home or business and get in touch with suppliers to contract to buy services, in the usual way.
Please visit www.westsussex-betterconnected.org.uk for more information.
Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council writes:-
Since I last wrote to you in September I would like to update you with progress on our plans to enable connections to better, faster broadband in the county. We aim for the majority of residents and businesses to be able to access superfast fibre-based broadband speeds of 24Mbps in line with national targets and our available funding. We are working hard to beat the government’s target date of Spring 2017 and, by building on the continuing commercial deployment of broadband, ensure that more than 90% of our county can access fibre-based broadband services by Spring 2016.
Since contracting with BT last year we have been carrying out detailed planning to make sure we achieve the best possible coverage for the county in the most cost effective way.
Openreach, BT’s local network business, is carrying out the necessary geographical survey work to challenge or confirm assumptions about how and where the telecommunications network can be built. This will mean reviewing an area of nearly 800 square miles and including 23,000 postcodes. It is a highly complex engineering challenge in our rural and coastal county.
This work is being done in eight overlapping phases and is almost completed for areas in phase one. These areas were identified as important to survey and build first in order to plot the grid for roll out across the county. We anticipate making an announcement before Easter about the first communities to benefit.
To help keep you informed we have created a new website which includes an interactive map to keep track of what is happening where. As we begin building the network we can update the map to show where work is being carried out and when broadband services will become available. The website also has information about the benefits of better, faster broadband and helps to put users in touch with broadband suppliers. The website will be live this week. For more information please do visit www.westsussex-betterconnected.org.uk
4 February 2014
You can download the Village Action Plan – August 2013 version by clicking the link below.
