Blog

As some may have noticed B4RN are knee deep in the hard dig through Barrasford village right now. Mole ploughing is also working its way toward Birtley. Some homes are getting their B4RN boxes already. B4RN plan to connect up every property throughout Barrasford, Chollerton, Gunnerton, Birtley, Colwell, The Swinburnes. It’s all very exciting and there are sure to be many questions, we’ve been keen to not make any announcements until we’re very sure things are progressing swiftly.

• Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN), is a Community Benefit Society, establishing community-led projects to bring 1GB high-speed broadband to homes and businesses in rural Northern England, specifically including more rural properties which have traditionally found themselves beyond the reach of high speed broadband networks.
  
• B4RN has been working with community representatives from Barrasford to bring Gigabit Broadband to Barrasford and through the extended Chollerton Parish Council area to Birtley.
  
• The project is being funded by Central Government, Northumberland County Council and local investment. Whilst progress with the project has been slow to start, and whilst some additional funding is still required for later phases of the build, it now has Government approval and the build of the new network is underway!
  
• Work on phase 1 of 5 has begun, with Barrasford Village Hall connected and now live with free Wifi. Chollerton First School is next to be connected and is planned to be live after the half term holidays.
  
• The rest of the network has now started to be built and will reach the furthest and most remote properties in the area. The routes currently covered by the different phases of the network are outlined in the attached map.
  
• The entire project, installing over 98 Km of fibre optic cable, is expected to be completed by summer 2024.
  
• If you have already signed up to be a part of the network then, in the coming days, weeks and months (depending on where your property is in the dig schedule) and as the dig approaches your property, you will be contacted by phone and email by B4RN to reconfirm your interest.
  

• If you haven’t signed up yet it isn’t too late, simply visit www.b4rn.org.uk to read more about B4RN, their services and tariffs.