UPDATE 8 - Superfast Fibre Broadband Project for Throwley

Despite all our efforts and support from both our MP and KCC Councillor, the Throwley Broadband project has missed the recent round of funding. The explanations provided by Openreach, KCC and DCMS are contradictory and inconsistent. As an example, please see quoted below some points from my recent email to Openreach dated 20/04/2022:

• According to DCMS, commercial checks have been completed for our project PRP number OR11875 in September/October 2021 and the project was ready to go, subject to the launch of the KCC voucher scheme.
• According to the email received from KCC on 4th February 2022: “The Kent Top Up went live a few days ago and Openreach and all the suppliers were notified by DCMS last week so they could notify the projects that are currently under development.”
• However, rather than launching the voucher scheme for Throwley, on 19 February 2022, Openreach submitted to DCMS voucher application OR11875, “to be included in the priority build area.”

In response, Openreach did not give any explanation why they did not launch the voucher scheme and instead re-applied for something already approved. However, they blamed DCMS for the delay. By the way, DCMS blamed Openreach for the delays regarding our project earlier. KCC is not in the clear either, as they have delayed the launch of the top up voucher scheme by about four months, making it practically impossible for Throwley to claim the vouchers within the time window allowed, even if Openreach had not re-applied to DCMS.

So, where are we now? The project is not dead but it has been delayed. The new Project Gigabit Programme should eventually lead to the completion of the project and we should all get Fibre-To-The-Premise internet connections. The recent consultation results UK Gigabit Programme (Kent): request for information - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), UK Gigabit Programme: Kent Public Review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) shows that all the postcodes on our project list are in the so called “White” category, i.e. eligible for funding from the Programme. (By the way, we were not notified about the above “public” consultation.)

As Throwley Parish Council, we are determined to pursue this matter. We hope that our elected MP and KCC and Swale Councillors will continue supporting us.