Normandy Gigabit Project - Halloween Update

Happy Halloween all!!! I would like to take this opportunity to give you an update on how the scheme is progressing.

Broadband Flyer from Surrey County Council

Many of you will have received the following flyer from Surrey County Council. Although it is a generic flyer with no mention of our scheme, I am glad that it has been released in order to bring awareness to our scheme and schemes like it in the area. One point of note - it refers to grouping together with 2 or more homes for shared cost of installation. In order to deliver this sort of scheme at no cost to the community in reality hundreds of homes need to be involved, hence why I created the scheme for Normandy to deliver faster broadband at no cost to anyone.

Map of Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects

The map which I have drawn out below gives an idea of the coverage of the phases in Normandy. You can clearly see the areas covered in Phase 1 which is with the DCMS for approval and Phase 2 which we are in the process of working out costings with Openreach. 

Scheme Progress to date:

Phase 1 - Core Project.

No progression since the last update - the core project is still waiting for Governmental approval from the DCMS (Department of Digital Culture, Media and Sport. I am not overly concerned as it looks like the DCMS takes its time with all projects. I will reach out to Michele in order to find out if there has been any feedback on our submission and if she can chase on our behalf.

NEXT ACTION: Ask Michele from Openreach to chase.

Phase 2 - South (Southern part of Glaziers Lane)

We have received the quote back from Openreach which covers 96x properties and costs £1,358 per household. This is way out of kilter compared to the quote that we are moving forward within Phase 1.

Openreach are still looking into this figure endeavouring to bring it down. Given that I have been told the costs will come down per household the more properties included in the scheme, my plan is to get a costing for all of the Phase 2 areas combined. We need West and North to be submitted first before we can look at this.

NEXT ACTION: Waiting for revised figure and then waiting to see the effect of combining the Phase 2 schemes on cost.

Phase 2 - East (Past Motorbike shop and Bailes Lane)

We have a tentative figure of £96,500 to cover 90x properties which works out at £1070 per property. We currently have 35x properties that have responded to me in the East with a total commitment figure of £62,500. In order for Openreach to go ahead with the work, we would need to pledge £125k in vouchers in this area. It remains to be seen how this figure would change if the 4x Phase 2 areas were combined.

NEXT ACTION: Wait until the West and North figures are completed.

Phase 2 - North (Pirbright Road)

Leaflet drop is complete, we have 11x names as it stands. Please if you live in the area tell your friends that may not know about this initiative so that they can join the list. I will be gathering names for the rest of this week for submission Sunday 7th November.

NEXT ACTION: Gather names, open Portal for data submission.

Phase 2 - West (from Wyke School to the Curzon)

We have 19x names for the West of Normandy and I will be submitting this data on Sunday 31st. If you have not already please run go tell your friends, and get them to send me their details so I can submit everyone's interest!

NEXT ACTION: Data submission - Sunday 31st Oct.

As you can see Phase 2 is a bit complex. We need to do what we can in order to keep the cost per property for all areas in this phase as low as possible therefore this is what I will be focussing on in the next few weeks before we get the final quote and then submit Phase 2 to the DCMS.

We will progress the scheme as a Community Led Scheme. This means that the community will pledge to raise 130% the value of the work in vouchers. If the community is unable to do this, the project will not go ahead - hence the importance in me trying to get the cost per household as low as possible, and the importance of as many people in the community being onboard with this. So please - reach out to your WhatsApp groups, post to your friends on Facebook, talk about this scheme when chatting to your friends. Promotion by word of mouth is so important!