Page 6 - link magazine

Pressure grows on council to drop 4G mast plan

Plans for Virgin to provide superfast outdated and there is no demand
broadband in North Swindon could from the residents I have spoken to.
be delayed after the company told “I have also been in contact with
Swindon Council that unless its 4G BT regarding an upgrade to the
mast plans are dropped, Virgin will existing Haydon exchange. We are
not bring fibre broadband to the at a stage of costing the project
area. and presenting it to the council.”
The plan, which aims to give “My fellow councillors and I ask
101,000 households and premises that the council go back to the
superfast broadband could be drawing board, and realise residents
completed by the middle of 2016 expect fibre superfast broadband
with a wireless system using 16 in their homes, not a short term
strategically placed street-masts 4G solution that is outdated before
and monopoles throughout the even being completed.”
borough. In July 2014, Swindon Borough
Justin Tomlinson MP is adamant Council and the Department for
that the 4G deal on the council’s Culture, Media and Sport each Cllr Toby Elliot (right) handing over a petition for fibre broadband in
table is not right for the residents agreed to invest up to £1.5 million Priory Vale to Cllr Garry Perkins (left) in March this year
of his area, and has been holding of funding to extend superfast
talks with Virgin Media and BT broadband coverage in non- Minister of State for Culture and the solution provided value for
to bring a more traditional fibre commercially viable areas. the Digital Economy, to give him an money and complied with the State
service to North Swindon in Cllr Mary Martin, the council’s update on the rollout of the 4G LTE aid rules. He also said he had been
particular. cabinet member for Corporate, superfast broadband network. assured the technology solution for
Justin said: “Virgin have shown Customer and Digital Services, said: “Mr Vaizey was very impressed the project was robust.
strong interest in bringing their “The superfast Swindon project is with the work being undertaken “Our rural communities and
service to our area, but see a state progressing well and UKB networks and the fact the project will deliver parts of north Swindon have been
aided project like the UKB 4G plan are making good headway in superfast broadband to 99.4% crying out for a decent broadband
as competition and will not proceed identifying alternative sites for of homes within the borough. service for many years and this
until this is thrown out. their masts in north Swindon. Mr Vaizey also noted that the network will not only make a
“I am currently trying to convince “Myself, the leader of the procurement process, overseen by huge difference to households, it
Virgin that the council plans aren’t council and Robert Buckland MP BDUK, confirmed that his officials will provide a big boost to local
competition at all, as they are also recently met with Ed Vaizey, had provided firm assurance that businesses.”

Younite Outreach Project to host 5th
PREMIER FLOORING Annual Charity Ball for Kenyan projects

CARPETS - VINYLS - LAMINATES The 5th annual Younite Outreach
Project Charity Ball is to be held
on Friday 5 February at the Marriot
THE PREMIER SERVICE Hotel in Swindon.
GUARANTEED TO SAVE The event is really important for
YOU MONEY the schools in Kenya funded solely
through people donating money and
FREE uplifting and disposal of volunteering with them as part of
your existing flooring the project, with the ball bringing
in the largest sum of money in the Younite volunteer Tarlia Clements
FREE moving of furniture
year for them.
NO Hidden extras or delivery Tickets are £35, and include with the Younite project through
charges a three course meal, drinks on crowdfunding and holding events
arrival, entertainment provided by such as a pub quiz at the Excalibur
All products and installation HOME SELECTION local group Paradox, and a charity offices.
guaranteed
WE COME TO YOU auction. Tarlia said: “I have always been
Public Liability Insured Younite Outreach Project is a involved in charity work with my
NO PRESSURE SALES Swindon based organisation which mum before coming to Excalibur
CALL STEVEN WALDRON NO OBLIGATION QUOTATIONS provides opportunities for people and when I saw an email from Fiona
TEL 01793 320974 CARRIED OUT IN THE COMFORT to volunteer at two schools for Simpson (Younite organiser) telling
OF YOUR OWN HOME AT A TIME orphans in Kenya. us about the work going on in
MOB 07812 855250 THAT SUITS YOU To date over 200 volunteers Kenya, I thought it was a once in a
[email protected] FAMILY RUN BUSINESS THAT have been to Kenya and as an lifetime opportunity.
DELIVERS QUALITY SERVICE organisation they do everything “We will be heading out on 26
Unit 35 Pembroke Centre AND WITH OVER 30 YEARS they can to fundraise for the March to help teach kids netball, art
Cheney Manor Industrial Estate EXPERIENCE IN INSTALLATION projects, including the charity ball. and build another school for them.
Swindon SN2 2PQ AND PRODUCT SALES
Amongst these volunteers is I can’t wait to get out there and
ALL YEAR ROUND COMPETITIVE PRICES Tarlia Clements, a customer help.”
AND EXCELLENT SERVICE. service apprentice with Excalibur For more information on the
Communications. Younite Outreach Project, or to
IT’S WHY OUR CUSTOMERS RETURN So far, she has raised over enquire about tickets to the charity
TO US TIME AND TIME AGAIN!
£1,000 to fund her trip to Kenya ball, visit www.yoproject.org.uk
6 swindonlink.com n January 2016