B4SW – bringing hyperfast broadband to the community

Because the group of B4RN volunteers disbanded at the end of October having completed the bulk of the work to
install broadband throughout the three parishes, only a little work has been done in the last month. However, B4RN
has concentrated on joining fibres to the network at chambers which has increased the number of connected houses
and businesses from 459 to 496. The details are:

New Hutton network – 120 services and 38 connections-only

Old Hutton network – 170 services and 35 connections-only
Preston Patrick network – 111 services and 22 connections-only

It is hoped that B4RN will have made decisions before the end of the year about the remaining parts of the network
which have still to be completed.

There is some concern about the network in New Hutton. United Utilities will lay pipes along a 100m wide strip of land
from the M6 in Old Hutton for a distance of 2.5Km (1.5 miles) to Greenbank in New Hutton. Much of the route follows
the route of our trunk broadband duct from the Old Hutton cabinet to the one at New Hutton. Almost all homes and
businesses in New Hutton parish and some in the north of the Old Hutton network depend on it. Urgent discussions
are taking place between B4SW, B4RN and UU to divert the trunk and to provide a second trunk line from the national
fibre network at the Hayclose Lane/A684 junction across the A684 to the next field where we have already installed a
duct.

If you have any questions please do contact any of the following:

Arthur Robinson, Secretary of B4SW 01539 725955 b4southwestmorland@gmail.com

Martyn Welch, Project Manager & New Hutton 01539 724836 martyn.welch@b4sw.org.uk
John Heap, Old Hutton & Holmescales 01539 738759 john.heap@b4sw.org.uk
Peter Winter, Preston Patrick 015395 67383 peter.winter@b4sw.org.uk

www.b4sw.org.uk B4SWgroup @B4SWgroup

The United Utilities pipeline project will affect a 100m wide strip of land from the Town House underpass at the M6 in
Old Hutton via Town House, Ewebank, Fairthorns and Millriggs to Greenbank in New Hutton as well as the roads
crossing it. Planning has taken longer than expected but work to set up access points and construct the works
compounds will start on the 7th January. The main office compound will be at the end of the track to Hallbank. Pipes
will be stored next to the M6 bridge and then moved along Fairthorns Lane to the works compound at Fairthorns. The
main work of digging and pipe laying will begin on 1st March. It will be done by Mott Macdonald Bentley (MMB) whose
Community Liaison Officer is Anita Marr. Fairthorns Lane will have a 15mph speed limit from 03-01-2019 and will be
closed to all but access traffic from 1st March. Reservoir Road will have temporary closures every day from the 3rd
January to allow vehicles to cross to the eastern part of the project area. There will be temporary closures of
Greenbank Lane when the work reaches it. Great concern was expressed at the New Hutton Parish Council meeting
that a map of the exact route has not yet been available so that work to divert the B4RN trunk line can be planned and
carried out before the 3rd January. It is possible that there will be another UU public exhibition/discussion session
before the 1st March.