Stocksfield: Ultra-fast broadband firm fails to connect villagers

Since the contract was awarded by the government in 2021, Factco has failed to connect a single Stocksfield property

A firm promising to bring ultrafast broadband to a Northumberland village has been criticised for failing to connect a single property so far.

Factco was awarded the contract to connect properties Stocksfield in January 2021, as part of the government's Project Gigabit scheme.

However, residents said the scheme was a "mess" with no connections made in three years.

Factco said 700 properties would be connected in the "near future."

Resident Tim Hills said: "The full fibre project was great on the face of it.

"Some local residents really struggle with internet speed so there was much excitement when it was announced."

However he said that "no-one here is connected yet and the project hits its third anniversary this month".

"The deadlines have moved continuously and the excuses have been many and varied," he added.

"Every road has been dug up, many several times. The roadworks have been endless. It is a mess."

Resident Tim Hills said that roads were being dug up to resolve issues and the project was a "mess"

When the project was first announced, Factco said properties would be connected in August and September 2021, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In September 2022, Factco said that the network would "go live" that same year and that it was "looking forward" to connecting 1,750 homes.

Mr Hills said the project "continues with the pace of an arthritic snail climbing a hill".

A spokeswoman for Factco said: "In 2023 we made considerable progress in providing Stocksfield with full fibre broadband, although it's fair to say we've come across a number of unexpected hurdles.

"We are currently forecasting that close to 700 premises will be ready for service imminently once the backhaul is connected."

'Aware of delays'

The government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said it was working with the firm to "resolve issues".

It added: "We are aware of delays to the rollout of a gigabit broadband voucher project in Stocksfield and the surrounding areas and we are working with the supplier.

"Facto has also submitted a change request to increase the voucher project scope which is subject to review.

"The supplier will only receive funding once connections are live and residents and businesses confirm that they have received and are content with the new service."