Hatch Beauchamp

You may have noticed activity on the fringe of the village by Airband and then Wessex Internet to provide fibre broadband accessible to some properties. This prompted the question: which areas are covered and what are the plans for the rest of the village? The answer has always been vague and difficult to qualify or verify. Last month our local MP, Gideon Amos, arranged a meeting with some of the providers and a local organisation CDS (Connecting Devon and Somerset) to try and get more answers. Whilst this meeting was very useful it failed to provide many definitive answers.

The reason for the mess is the arcane way the government provides support for its ‘Project Gigabit’. Originally this was targetted to provide 99% of households with fibre broadband by 2030, but then this was pushed back to 2032. Although 99% sounds good, Matt Barrow of CDS told us that in practice for rural areas its only 84% as households are concentrated in urban areas. Already 83% of all households are covered in the whole of Taunton and Wellington constituency.

The way that the rollout works is that the government franchises out individual areas and companies offer to cover say 80% of all households. Then later on a new franchise might be created for the remaining 20% – but the bidders may not take it all on. Some providers then get into financial difficulties and renege on their commitments – the affected areas are then in limbo as they cannot be offered to a new provider whilst negotiations continue on the original contact. So the general situation is hopelessly fragmented and its impossible to say in general whether and when a particular household or group of households may be connected.

Since the meeting I attempted to get a more specific update about Hatch Beauchamp from Matt Barrow, without any success. However, on following up via the MP’s office I received this further update which offers little news except that the MP is concerned and is lobbying for an improved delivery model. Here is the response in full:

“I am a caseworker writing to you on behalf of Gideon Amos OBE MP.

Thank you for your recent email concerning your request for information on full fibre rollout in the Hatch Beauchamp area. 

I completely understand your frustration and acknowledge that you have been awaiting a reply to your earlier enquiry. One of the recurring themes of the public meeting held on 16 July was the difficulty residents face in obtaining clear and timely information about broadband rollout plans. Your personal experience reflects this wider concern.

Since the meeting last month, Gideon’s office has discussed a number of the issues raised by residents with Matt Barrow of Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS). These included your concerns about full fibre rollout in Hatch Beauchamp and the wider Cluster 13 area.

Although CDS has not been able to provide a more precise delivery timetable for Hatch Beauchamp, Mr Barrow confirmed that Airband remains in a difficult financial position and may ultimately enter administration unless a new financial backer is secured. However, he also advised that, should a buyer be found, a sale of the business could potentially allow rollout activity to continue with limited disruption and completion of fibre rollout in your area by the agreed contractual deadline of September 2027. CDS’s position remains that these contractual commitments still apply notwithstanding Airband’s financial difficulties.

I appreciate that this update does not provide the certainty you are seeking. Unfortunately, the position remains fluid and many of the answers affected residents and their communities want are still dependent upon decisions beyond the control of CDS.

Alongside pressing for improved engagement with residents about local rollout plans, Gideon is advocating for wider changes to the way rural broadband programmes are delivered. In particular, he is participating in discussions with CDS, Somerset Council and other local authority broadband partnerships regarding proposals aimed at securing greater influence over local broadband funding decisions and improved support for the hardest-to-reach rural communities that risk being left behind under current arrangements. I understand that these discussions are at an early stage, but they reflect a growing concern that some rural areas require a different approach.

Thank you again for your patience and for your continued engagement on this issue. Should Gideon receive any further information, I will of course let you know.”