RESIDENTS and businesses in three rural communities have been told of a plan to improve their internet access which could end the frustration many have felt for a long time.

A scheme to deliver fibre broadband to residents in Ovington, Hutton Magna and Wycliffe, in Teesdale, by the end of 2021 was revealed to residents last week.

MP Dehenna Davison met with representatives from Digital Durham and she and a number of residents were given a presentation from supplier Factco about the proposal.

The Digital Durham programme, led by Durham County Council, is a £25 million initiative to transform broadband speeds for residents and businesses across County Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland and Tees Valley.

Ms Davison and residents were shown a presentation detailing how Digital Durham and FACTO plan to improve broadband coverage and speed in these hard to reach rural areas.

Plans included using the vouchers provided under the Government Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), topped up with extra funds from Durham County Council, to improve broadband where there is currently poor to no coverage.

The Bishop Auckland MP said: “I stood on an election pledge to improve broadband, with places live Ovington and Hutton Magna in mind.

"I am so pleased to see plans to better local broadband already in full swing.

"With so many of us now working from home, broadband should be considered as important a utility as electricity or water, so it is imperative we improve access to good quality broadband connections.

"This is something the Government remains committed to, with the Chancellor announcing a £5 billion package to support the rollout of better broadband coverage.

"I am glad to see the local council taking advantage of the gigabit broadband scheme and hope to see plans in action very soon so that residents in Ovington, Hutton Magna, and Wycliffe can finally get properly connected.”

Resident David Bottoms, who was on the call, said: “The communities surrounding Hutton Magna, Ovington and Wycliffe suffered months of frustration trying unsuccessfully to progress eligible applications for fast fibre broadband through the government’s USO scheme administered by BT.

“We are now most grateful to our MP Dehenna Davison and Digital Durham for brokering a free-to-end-user installation solution which looks most promising.

"In the current Covid climate that requires on-line schooling, and when sons and daughters can only see elderly parents in care homes via on-line technologies, the need for fast broadband is of paramount importance and we are glad someone has sat up and taken notice at last.

"We look forward to working in harmony with Dehenna, Durham County Council’s Digital Durham team and GBVS registered supplier FACTCO to make this a huge success.”

Lee Murphy, managing director of FACTCO, said: “In conjunction with Durham County Council and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, we are working with the community to explore options in relation to delivering full fibre broadband.

"We started planning this week.

"Once completed, the network will provide residents and businesses up to 1000Mb broadband speed."