From: info@northdorsetbroadband.co.uk
Dear Supporter,
The Trailway Broadband Project.Over the last nine months we have struggled to make sense of the contradictory messages coming from BDUK and DEFRA.
In February, there was a fundamental interpretation of one of the three basic criteria required to access the Rural Community Broadband Fund. We were one of six projects that had developed projects in such a way that we would have been eligible to access this fund. The changes announced by the RCBF team meant that, in order to qualify, we would have had to reduce the area covered by the project to the extent that there was no longer a sound business case.
We have taken the issue up to ministerial and Secretary of State level. Regrettably, in spite of considerable efforts to repair the damage, it is now clear that we will not be able to access RCBF funds. This applies to five of the other projects.
Rather than continuing to struggle on, we have decided to admit defeat.
This does not mean that you will miss out on improved broadband. The DCC programme, Superfast Dorset will cover all of the Trailway project area. Interestingly, our area will get greater coverage than the rest of rural Dorset.
We would very much like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your work and support which got the project to within a whisker of succeeding.
On behalf of all the team
Scott Norman
Chair of the Trailway Broadband Project and of DT11 Community Partnership
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