North Dorset UK Could Solve Rural Broadband Woe via Old Railway Line

The Communities Partnership Executive of North Dorset (CPEND) claims to have gained a positive response from DEFRA’s Rural Communities Broadband Fund (RCBF) after it proposed to solve local rural broadband woes by laying a fibre optic cable along a former railway line (trailway) that runs from Sturminster Newton to Blandford.

According to This is Dorset, the plan would involve running a fibre optic cable down the 8 mile stretch of trailway and linking up several villages along the way including Durweston, Stourpaine, Shillingstone, Child Okeford and Okeford Fitzpaine. Several further villages, Manston, Hammoon and Fiddleford, could potentially also be included into the project.

The CPEND is now understood to be developing a full application that would aim to secure a slice of RCBF’s £20 million budget and might also seek additional money through private investment. Bournemouth University has also started a local survey to assess the projects potential economic and social impact. Overall some 2,200 people and 100 businesses could benefit.

Further details about the Trailway Broadband project can be found on the DT11 Forum.