Below is an email just received from Robert Stepniewski who is managing the Ultrafast Broadband project at Worcestershire County Council:
“During the run-up to the launch of the UK Gigabit Voucher and closure of the Rural Voucher scheme BDUK (DCMS) received over 1,300 project proposals from suppliers by the 19 February deadline – a 10 fold increase in comparison to previous months. Some projects are still being processed and 700 or so are being transferred to the new scheme and will be processed over the next 6-8 weeks.
So, a huge influx of projects, resulting in the current delay.
Of my 40 projects – 15 have been contracted, a couple are on hold but just over 20 are awaiting DCMS (Department of Culture, Media and Sport) approval. These (including yours) are simply delayed due to the influx of projects.
I am raising this with DCMS directly.“
In addition, we have asked our County Councillor, Elizabeth Eyre, to take up the delay directly with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and try to expedite our project.
Anyone not signed up for the project to date but interested in participating should send an email to:
broadband@charlton-worcestershire.org.uk
including your name, address, email address & telephone number. Also those with businesses can apply. You just need to include the business name, whether a sole trader with unique Tax Reference, or if a limited company, company name & company number.