Local Farmers

A meeting took place today with a group of nine Garsdale farmers with the aim of bringing them up to speed on recent developments to to secure their continued support for the project.

The meeting was held at Lucid Training and many thanks to them for the excellent lunchtime refreshments. Discussions focused in project finances, route planning and wayleaves. It is hoped that some trench digging would start in November. Thanks to all those who attended and for a very positive meeting.

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Residents Congratulate

The residents of Garsdale and Dentdale send in messages of congratulations to Fibre Garden following the securing of a grant from DEFRA towards the cost of providing a fibre optic network through both Dales. This will connect every property who will then have access to superfast broadband and telephony services.

Public Meetings

Public meetings were held recently in Dentdale and Garsdale by Fibre GarDen, the community interest company that is working to bring a superfast fibre optic broadband network to the two dales. Andrew Fleck, the company’s chairman, addressed a total of 111 residents in Dent, Cowgill and Garsdale and explained the benefits of the proposed network and the likely costs of both building it and subscribing to it.

An expression of interest form was given to those present at the meetings and subsequently delivered to every household that had not been represented. Residents were asked if they would be prepared to buy shares in the project, and whether they would want to take the superfast broadband service when it was up and running.

The Cowgill and Garsdale meetings were particularly well attended, and the returns from the expressions of interest considerably exceeded expectations as nearly £200,000 was pledged in contributions.