FASTER broadband could be on the cards for hundreds of people in two dale villages.
Almost 650 households could benefit from a proposed Startforth and Boldron Community Fibre project.
The scheme would be led by Liverpool-based Factco, a company which specialises in fibre and communication technology for residents and businesses.
It would be funded via the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme, which is worth £1,500 per household and £3,000 for each business which signs up to the scheme.
To cover any shortfall, the Digital Durham programme will increase the value of the vouches to £3,000 for residents and £7,000 for businesses if required.
Discussions involving Startforth Parish Council, Boldron Parish Meeting, county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson, representatives from Digital Durham and officials from Factco have taken place. Members of Startforth Parish Council were told the project offered the best solution to slow broadband speeds for the majority of residents in the village.
Councillors were told Factco was committed to championing communities “which might otherwise be left in a broadband desert” and would prepare, fund and market the project in an effort to get people to sign up.
The report also said it was timely to act now as the gigabit voucher scheme expires in March, with funds allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
“The information available seems to point to the Factco/Digital Durham community fibre project as having the best potential to bring significantly increased broadband speeds to a large part of the Startforth population within the next 12 months,” stated the report. “The prices for packages are competitive and are guaranteed not to increase during the 12-month contract with Factco.”
Cllr Liz Franklin, who represented the parish council at the meeting with Factco and Digital Durham, said the project appeared to be a “perfectly feasible” way of improving broadband speeds.
“I can’t see any negative sides to it. The whole process seems very simple,” she said.
Cllr Peter Worley said he was “all for it” but added that the first question people would ask is “how much is it going to cost” ?
Parish clerk Judith Mashiter said this had been pointed out at the meeting with Factco.
“People are not going to be bothered about the cost of installation. They want to know the speed and costs.”
The meeting was told the most basic broadband package offered under the scheme would cost £24.99 a month.
Cllr Worley said one drawback could be if residents were tied in to long contracts with their current broadband provider and faced penalty fees to end the agreements.
Cllr Estall moved a recommendation to support the Startforth and Boldron Fibre Project and this was unanimously agreed.
Digital Durham said letters to residents have been sent out and it is hoped many will register their interest in the project to improve broadband speeds. For more information visit http://factco.co.uk/startforthandboldron/
