Three Villages Broadband Campaign

Press Release

Wylam, Heddon and Horsley say
"Why not us?"

While the rest of the country is getting 21st century communications through Broadband Internet links, residents of Wylam, Heddon on the Wall and Horsley, all served by the Wylam (01661 85) telephone exchange are wondering why they have been left out.

In the recent Wylam Village Appraisal undertaken by the Parish Council, over 350 households said they would access a community website from home, showing an extremely high percentage of households in this part of the country already use the Internet. The same survey shows that in Wylam alone, 35 households had 'homeworkers' and that 147 households indicated that they would like to see more employment opportunities in the community but clearly indicated that they did not wish to see any kind of industrial development or increase in traffic - mirroring national trends in the growth of small businesses and home working and clearly supporting the need for improved electronic communication.

Residents are being asked through the Three Villages Broadband Campaign to 'vote for Broadband'. Broadband Internet access is an investment for the future of our communities. We need everyone's support now so that we can start to benefit. Residents are being asked for their support even if they do not think that they will directly benefit in the short term. We are hoping that households who do not currently use the Internet will support the campaign as something that they believe their community should have - in the same way that households without children support their local schools or playing fields.

Tony Mitcham, Chairman of Wylam Parish Council and member of the working group set up with Horsley and Heddon to campaign for updating the telephone exchange to provide Broadband to the villages complains
"Neighbouring communities such as Prudhoe, Stocksfield, and Ovingham have all had their telephone exchanges enabled to provide high speed Broadband. BT has not even set a trigger point that would give a target for us to aim for. In the meantime we struggle on with a dial up system that is 10 times slower than Broadband and prone to interruption."

Councillor Brian Selman of Heddon on the Wall Parish Council echoes similar sentiments
" A large number of homes now have computers with Internet connections but the dial up system is stopping people using it effectively for working from home and taking advantage of the educational and entertainment opportunities that the net offers.
"Broadband would also help those who need to work from home because of commitments to children or other relatives who need caring for or seek work but are restricted by mobility problems."

Alan Holmes, a Horsley Councillor comments
" There are plenty of small businesses in the area that feel that they are disadvantaged compared with their competitors by not having fast Internet access.
" Rural communities, such as those in the Wylam exchange area, can only participate in the developing world of e-commerce and e-government if they have the right links to the Internet."

The Campaign, which is co-ordinated by a working group set up around the UK On-line facility at Wylam Institute, has a website at www.wylam.info where people with telephone numbers starting 01661 85 can register their vote for Broadband.

Leaflets and information are being distributed door to door and through local newssheets to stimulate interest. A form is being provided so that those with computers who have not got round to getting an Internet connection can be registered by the UK Online office at Wylam Institute.

Some people have been put off registering with BT because they mistakenly think they may be committing themselves to paying for a service. Registering however costs nothing and involves no commitment. It could however persuade BT, or other suppliers, that there is enough interest to update the Wylam exchange and/or provide an alternative option.

Contacts:

Three Villages Broadband Campaign Co-ordinator: Rowena Ward
Phone 01661 854 296
E-mail rowena@strategicps.co.uk

Wylam Parish Council: Tony Mitcham
Phone 01661 852 128
E-mail anthony.mitcham@virgin.net.uk

Heddon on the Wall Parish Council: Brian Selman
Phone 01661 853 217
E-mail meg.selman@btopenworld.com

Horsley Parish Council: Alan Holmes
Phone 01661 853 081
E-mail alan.holmes@twfire.org