The Wiltshire Online-BT plan to deliver fibre broadband to Winterbourne Stoke has, as mentioned in previous updates, hit some barriers to progress; particularly a crop being planted in one of the fields that needs to be negotiated between here and Shrewton.
BT are very apologetic about having been unable to meet the original forecast but, to be honest, this has been due to circumstances outside of their control. They are sure that they will get there and are changing the plan in order bring in the delivery as soon as possible. The new route is unaffected by crops and the need to harvest them.
BT informed us over the weekend:
“We have been working in Winterbourne Stoke and an Openreach engineer will be on site on Monday 19th June to light test 3km of fibre. In addition an engineering team will be installing cabling for another 500m section of the route over the coming weeks.
We require agreement to three wayleaves in order to complete the work. One was signed very early on while the other two are being worked through with the appointed land agent and the MOD and we have asked the council to help where they can with wayleaves. Once resolved, then the mole ploughing of the remaining 2km route will commence and the solution can be fully commissioned. The mole plough is on site now in readiness.
As you will understand this is one of our more challenging deployments, but we don’t give up. Delivery of service is now targeted for August.”
So, watch this space. BT will be providing regular updates which we will pass on as soon as we have them.