The Parish Council (PC) has held a number of discussions with representatives from Freedom Fibre (FF), Cheshire West & Chester Council (CWAC) and residents in respect of Freedom Fibre’s (FF) current plans to deliver high speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) via telegraph poles and cables. Discussions have focused on:
- Why have FF chosen to deliver FTTP via posts and overhead cables to the areas of the village where there appears to be Open Reach (OR) underground ducts used for the current fibre service available:
FF have used the Openreach (OR) duct network plans. These show the network is incomplete and / or unusable due to congestion, collapse or blockage. Additionally, any network that exists only goes as far as the kerb side, not to the properties.
At the request of the PC, FF agreed to conduct their own survey of the network to check if all or part of the network could be used instead of poles. Unfortunately, they have advised that the rod / rope survey, conducted by eight engineers across the Fairclough and Locke estates on 22 November 2022, confirmed the poor state of repair assessment. FF have no right or agreement to enhance or repair the OR ducting.
- Would FF be willing to install a new duct network across the two estates:
This is not commercially viable for FF. However, a meeting has been held between FF and CWAC to explore whether FF would consider providing FTTP via new ducts if it could be made more commercially viable for them. This may be possible via residents applying for government vouchers toward FTTP installation and passing those onto Freedom Fibre.
In principle, FF are open to consider this, however there are ‘feasibility’ steps that need to be taken before it can be established if it is viable including:
- FF need to work through the costs to establish what level of contribution they would require for this option to be commercially viable for them
- CWAC need to contact the government scheme administrators to check if Comberbach residents will qualify for the voucher scheme.
If established as a viable option, the PC will work with FF and CWAC to provide a further update to residents as to how this scheme would operate and set out the next steps. For more info on the scheme https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/ or see notices in the Parish notice board and website.
- What if the option noted in point 2 isn’t commercially viable for FF:
Whilst FF could proceed with their plans without consulting residents under their permitted development rights, they have agreed they will write to residents setting out their plans for the use of posts and overhead cables and provide them a period of time to express their opinion for or against the installation.
FF have advised they will respect what the majority of residents want them to do, including ‘walking away’. It will be imperative all residents have their voice heard and register their ‘vote’ for or against.
- What happens if FF walk away:
The Fairclough and Locke estates will have no access to the higher internet speeds that FTTP would bring until, if and when another service provider decides to invest in the infrastructure. This may still be via poles and cable, and could happen without consultation with residents under the permitted development rights. The PC have been unable to establish if any other providers, including OR, have plans to bring FTTP to the village in the foreseeable future, leaving the estates vulnerable waiting for years before another provider is prepared to take on the costs, or are forced to by the Government.
Please note, the Parish Council does not have a view for or against the FF proposals and is limiting itself to the role of working to ensure that FF and CWAC are aware of the points raised by residents and respond to them.
The next update will be issued once the ducting option has been explored further.
