Welcome to the April edition of The Build Bulletin. In each area below, we’ve summarised activity for the month of April and given an overview of what you can expect in May.
There might be some terminology regarding build details that you’re not familiar with, so we’ve created this jargon buster to help.
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BOLAM
In the last month we have been in discussion with our third-party provider of the leased line to investigate ways of bringing the line into the cabinet. At present, the route from the exchange isn’t without its complexities, but we continue to work with our provider and other suppliers to compile a detailed survey of the route and find an efficient way of linking the exchange to our cabinet.
We didn’t envisage or plan for these issues which is highly frustrating and can only continue to apologise for not being able to bring full fibre to Bolam as quickly as we’d planned. The network in Bolam is fully built and tested, so as soon as we have the line live we will be able to connect customers.
BOLDRON
Progress update
We are 99 per cent complete in Boldron! All we need to do is connect the leased line. This part of the build is what connects Boldron’s cabinet to the internet exchange point – the last leg which has, unfortunately, proved problematic!
This vital fibre cable needs to stretch across the countryside to connect your local cabinet to the internet exchange point – it’s one mighty task!
Next steps
We have contracted the third-party supplier and we are now awaiting for a more detailed installation plan and date from the leased line provider. Typically, this whole process takes anywhere between 6 to 12 weeks from the survey date, but we are trying to expedite this and have stressed the urgency. Stay tuned – we will keep you updated in each Build Bulletin and if we get a firm date prior, will contact you.
CROWTON, KINGSLEY AND NORLEY
Progress update
Crowton, Kingsley and Norley is one of our biggest projects to date. Because of its size, we’ll be progressing through works at different stages in different areas, so we’ve split up the project into four sectors. Check where your property is located here.
Milestone! April saw the cabinet’s power go live! This means, aside from the leased line connection, Crowton, Kingsley and Norley’s cabinet is ready to go. A lot of intricate work goes into getting the cabinet up and running. We’re proud of all involved for getting this part of the build ticked off!
In addition to this, the team continued to progress the feeder route from the cabinet to Crowton (feeder routes into Kingsley and Norley are both completed, with the subducting done and fibre blown in!). This means a whopping 70 per cent of the subducting is installed for the feeder route. The final 30 per cent will require some more civils work which will continue to progress over the coming weeks.
Next steps
While we wait for the leased line to be installed (see details below), we’ll be working hard to tick every other box. As we head into May one focus will be splicing and testing the fibre. Once the team get this done, it means some properties will be ready to go live when the leased line is in!
As the feeder routes are very close to completion, the team will then move to the distribution routes in all sectors. These routes are what connects the primary node to secondary nodes (refer to our visual here!). This will require the installation of poles across all three villages. To learn more about why we install telegraph poles please read this blog post.
Leased line update for the cabinet
While the team are working on the feeder routes and distribution routes of the network, they’re also making sure your cabinet will also be ready for service! The cabinet is the vital to your full fibre upgrade. It acts as the key connection between the internet exchange point and your home. Without the leased line, full fibre cannot make it through the network. Our leased line provider has given us the green light for install. We’re awaiting our scheduled installation date andtime. In the meantime, our supplier will give us another review and from then we’ll all be counting down the days.
Sector 1: We’ll start installing poles in sector 1 first. Residents in this sector will have received a letter in the mail this week letting them know of our plans to soon commence building the required overhead infrastructure. If a pole is to be installed in your street, you will see statutory notices (also known as a Regulation 5 notice) appear where the pole will be sited.
Poles will be installed 28 days after these notices have been put up. At this stage, we expect to install approximately 37 poles in sector 1, with additional poles due to go into the other sectors in the near future. If you’d like to know more about the use of poles, please read our blog
here.In sector 1: You’ll also see our team on Top Road splicing and testing. There are a few civils works that need to be completed during the school holidays so that we may avoid disruption during the school term. We’re waiting to receive the appropriate permits before we begin work.
Sector 2: We’ll start to move towards installing poles in sector 2 after sector 1 (please read sector 1’s update above for more detail if you
haven’t already). Residents in the area can expect to see the above-mentioned Regulation 5 notices soon. Residents in sector 2 will also see activity on Top Road as the team are splicing and testing.Sector 3: Our team will be on a mission to complete the feeder route from the cabinet to Crowton. To achieve this there will be civils works taking place on Mill Lane which we expect to take one to two weeks. As Mill Lane runs onto Kingsley Road, residents can expect work there too. Once this is done, splicing and testing will begin! Poles will be installed into sector 3 after sector 2. Affected residents will receive a letter and the Build Bulletin will have an update next month with more detail.
Sector 5: Our team will continue working on civils work on School Bank, Norley Road, Maddocks Hill, High Street, Breech Moss Lane, Hambletts Hollow, Fingerpost Lane in the throughout May. As above, sector 5 residents should start to see registration 5 notices appear where poles are located. Once poles are installed on sectors 1-3, they’ll be installed in sector 5. Stay tuned next month for more detail.
In May we will also be blowing fibre cables through the newly installed network, starting in sector one and two. Following on from this, we will continue to blow through all sectors simultaneously, both over and underground. At this stage it’s forecast that residents in sector two will see their part of the network completed first. We expect this to be in early July!
DARRAS HALL
Progress update
Sector four is 95% complete! With only a few small pieces left, the ball is well and truly rolling in Darras Hall. In April, we have installed 4 poles, 3 on Oaklands and 1 on The Close. Adding to this we’ve blown more fibre through the neighbourhood. Soon an additional 47 properties on Darras Road, Oaklands and Oaklands Court will be connected to our full fibre network.
In more good news, full fibre is now available to residents on Meadow Court!
We also completed a small civils job on Tuesday, 2 May on Tudor Court. This only required about 1m worth of ducting. Now that’s done, we can move on to testing! As soon as the test results are satisfactory, we’ll be in touch with residents in Tudor Court to set up their connection date.
Our home install team has been busy across the sector getting customers up and running with full fibre broadband. This final step brings us just as much joy as it does our customers.
Next steps
In May, you’ll spot our friendly team completing more home installations on top of as well as completing the remaining tasks which will finalise sector 4’s network.
We’ll be focused on splicing and testing Oaklands so that we can connect affected residents in early June.
We’ve secured permission to install two new poles on Riverside, this will enable us to connect five properties on Riverside and one property on Darras Road.
We’re planning to install one more pole in late May. This pole lengthens our distribution route allowing us to connect 55 more properties on Runnymede Road, The Grove, Fox and Covert Lane. Once the network has then been built and tested, customers on these streets will be contacted about their home installation appointment.
In the news!
Did you see our article in the Northumberland Gazette last month? If you did, you would’ve seen that we’re investigating into further developing the network in Darras Hall. If you’d like to know what’s next in store, watch this space!
ELVINGTON
Progress update
April saw more home connections in Elvington. We’re so glad to see the community making the most of access to full fibre broadband!
Last month we also successfully obtained a wayleave! This has been in progress for quite some time and we’re so pleased that it’s been finalised. Since obtaining the wayleave our team has been on site completing subducting works so that the fibre can be easily blown through.
Next steps
With the wayleave in hand and subducting completed, the team will now move ahead blowing, splicing and testing the fibre. All going to plan, residents surrounding the airfield can expect a call to schedule their installation appointment towards the end of this month. The second wayleave in question, affecting some residents on Church Lane, has unfortunately not been resolved. We will progress as best we can with this and update you in next month’s Build Bulletin.
ESCRICK
In the last month, our team completed civil engineering jobs on The Glade, Riccall Road, A19, Skipworth Road, and Derwent Crescent – a huge piece of work! Our team also finished the installation of all planned telegraph poles in specific areas, including on Carr Lane, Escrick Court, Northlands Close, Skipworth Road, Southlands Close, Wenlock Drive and Woodlands. Our team will be off site for a few weeks now but will be back in the not-too-distant future with continuation and then completion of the project.
HALE VILLAGE
Progress update
We are now LIVE in Hale Village! With the cabinet now connected to the leased line, we’ll be starting to connect customers this month. If you’ve signed a contract with us, sit tight! A member of our team will reach out to arrange an installation date. If you’d like to get in touch about signing up, please call our team on 0333 305 7560 or send us an email at hello@factco.co.uk.
We’ve had a BIG month in Hale Village! We’re 80 per cent of the way through building the network in sector 1, and 95 per cent through in sector 2. Once these last parts of the build are complete, we’ll be able to connect even more properties in these area that rely on these jobs being finished.
In April, we’ve installed two new telegraph poles in the Houghton Road Estate in sector 2. We also continued building, testing and splicing fibre cables in both sectors. The finish line is getting closer!
Next steps
Seven new telegraph poles will be installed in May. Affected residents in Arklow Drive, Cocklade Lane, Carlow Close, Ladypool, Holly Close and Wexford Avenue have receive a letter from FACTCO outlining the pole’s locations and why they’re required. Once these final poles are installed our team will have some more overhead cabling to complete.
Both sectors require a lot of testing before we can connect customers. Testing is an essential part of the build, as it allows us to verify the quality of the network. This ensures you receive nothing but the best full fibre connectivity.
ROTHBURY
Progress update
We are LIVE in Rothbury! Full fibre broadband is up and running in your community now. If you’re in sector one and you’ve got a signed contract – sit tight! Our installations team will be calling you in the next few days (if you’ve not already heard from us).
In April, our team worked tirelessly to get plenty of jobs done in all of Rothbury’s sectors. See below! Not sure what sector you’re in? Check here!
Sector 1: A pole was successfully installed on Hillside. This pole is crucial in servicing nearby areas such as Hillside East, so we’re so pleased to have this one ticked off!
Sector 2: We completed most civils engineering works on Woodlands and Allerdene Court. We will need to complete some lead-in works on Woodlands in the near future. Thank you for bearing with us during the works so far!
Sector 3: We’ve also completed most of the civil engineering works outside Morlens and Garleigh Road and Tollgate Road. We may need to return for some additional work on Tollgate Road due to issues obtaining a wayleave, but for now it’s done! Thank you for your patience, and we will update you in the next Build Bulletin if works are planned to resume.
Sector 4: In April we had a site meeting with the local council and our suppliers to discuss a network delivery plan moving forward. This site meeting was to address the delays the team ran into which we mentioned in last month’s Build Bulletin. We predict there’ll be a traffic management plan in place outside the butchers and to the east along Town Foot. Once this is all finalised, we’ll be able to test, rod and rope these parts of the sector. In addition to this, we successfully installed new telegraph poles, helping us to stretch the network far and wide!
Next steps
There are a few tasks for us to tick off to make sure our network reaches as many homes as possible, so we’ll be working over the next few things in May:
Sector 1: Most of sector 1 is completed and ready for connection! There’s only a small amount of fibre blowing to be done. There will be a road closure in place from the high street towards Thropton. Here, the team will be working on a subduct and there may be a need for some small additional civils work to be completed. The team has 1,500 m to investigate – no small task! We predict this won’t take longer than a week and thank you in advance for your patience! Any outstanding testing will be done for outstanding parts of the network. Alongside that, testing your new network will be a top priority. It’s all hands on deck.
Sector 2: In order to pull through some of the final fibre cables, our team will need to access carriageway boxes (manholes) in the middle of the road on the high street. As they’re working here, they’ll also be looking for any blockages which will need civils work to remove (if they should find any). This job is pencilled in at this stage as we wait for our permit requests for traffic management to be approved.
Sector 3: In May, we’ll be testing secondary nodes. These nodes are another leg in the overall route between the cabinet to your home (see diagram here). Unfortunately, we are facing some delays on Bridge Street due to a large blockage that the team recently discovered. Expect to see traffic management in place at the start of May so the team can safely work to clear the blockage. Once this is resolved, we’ll be able to get more properties live!
Sector 4: Unfortunately, sector 4 will also be impacted by the Bridge Street blockage mentioned above. This month, residents in this sector will see traffic management in place outside the butchers and towards the east along Town Foot. Our team will be testing, rodding and roping throughout sector 4 to ensure the fibre can be blown smoothly through.
Please tune in next month to see when your sector will go live!
STOCKSFIELD
Progress update
We’ve been busy in Stocksfield! Unfortunately, we’ve also run into a few unexpected issues that will cause slight delays. To make things easier, we’ve divided this project into smaller network sectors. Check where your property is here (this is an updated link).
In sector 1, our team has continued to check the subducts to make sure they’re cleared. Once this has been completed we’ll let the fibre team know they can start blowing through!
We installed 3 poles in sector 3 on Stonybank Way in April. There are still a few more to be installed, however we don’t expect this to delay any progress.
In Sector 4, this month we completed subducting and were able to commence blowing through fibre from the cabinet into the feeder route. We also completed blowing fibre from our primary nodes all the way through the distribution route to this sector’s secondary nodes (check this diagram).
Unfortunately, as the team were blowing fibre into sector 4 they ran into a blockage at the junction of Hall Farm Close and The Old Forge. This leads us to believe there is an issue with the feeder route (check this diagram). Since encountering this issue, we have been busy lining up civils permits so we can get this fixed quickly.
Next steps
Sector 4: As all the fibre is now blown through this area, apart from the blockage, sector 4 will be the first to go live in Stocksfield! Work to rectify this has been planned to take place within the first two weeks of May. As soon as this is rectified and the leased line is installed to the cabinet, we can expect to start customer connections!
Sector 1: There will be a road closure on Painshawfield Road on 15 May for civils. While the team are completing civils, they’ll also be testing ducts along the way and fixing anything that needs fixing. Basically, doing it all in one hit to avoid having to return! The end date of this closure will depend on the state of the ducts. At present we expect it will take a week as the team need to work through a large length of the road. We expect all works to be completed by the end of May and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
As it stands, we’re currently forecasting for home connections to begin in mid to late June for sector 1 and sector 4. If you’ve signed a contract, our install team will call you as soon as the network is live. Stay tuned!
Sectors 2 and 3: Sectors 1 and 4 will be the first two to become live and receive customer connections. Once these are done, we’ll be moving onto sector 2. Please bear with us as we make it through these last few tasks!
Sector 3: All major civils work is done in sector 3. Once fibre is blown through sector 3 the all important splicing and testing will begin. Stay tuned!
Community event: advice forum
If you’re curious about full fibre broadband, then this event is for you! Those wanting to ask questions or understand more about full fibre are invited to attend an upcoming advice forum.
Stocksfield Advice Forum
Stocksfield Community Centre
Tuesday, 23 May
Between 3pm and 7pm
Please note this event will discuss details of sector 4’s build, although everyone is welcome to attend. Our Community Sales Manager Gary Spooner will be joined on the day by Councillor Anne Dale, as well as Sylvia Pringle and Gillian Cowell from iNorthumberland.
STOCKTON ON THE FOREST
Progress update
Last month we had prepared for work to take place at 89-93 The Village. This work was cancelled as the team identified an alternative route to continue building the network which only required a small civils job. A great outcome! Our team completed works on Stockton Lane and Sandy Lane in April. Thank you for bearing with us while we worked on this job!
We’re proud to say, most of Stockton on the Forest has been subducted, which means we’re almost ready to start blowing in the fibre.
Next steps
The team will be working on Sandy Lane to install one new pole. Following on from that, no more major civils works are needed!
In advance of the regulation 5 notices being posted, affected residents in Sandy Lane will have received a letter advising them of the pole that’s set to go in. For any questions regarding the use of overhead infrastructure, please visit our blog.
We’re gearing up to prepare blowing fibre cables through the network in May, as well as progressing with the final stage of getting the cabinet connected to a leased line.
At the moment, we’re forecasting to be able to start connecting customers in July! There’ll be more to update you in next month’s edition regarding this, so stay tuned!
WHELDRAKE
Progress update
We are so close to completing Wheldrake’s network build! Read a sector-by-sector summary of our April progress below. Not sure what sector you’re in? Check here!
Sector 1: We’re pleased to announce, after installing new telegraph poles in April, all necessary infrastructure is in place to get Broad Highway connected. Once completed, this link will tick sector one off the list!
Sector 2: As mentioned in last month’s Build Bulletin, we are waiting for a wayleave to be finalised before we can bring full fibre to parts of sector 2. We’ve had some positive movement on it and we hope to have it resolved in May. Please keep an eye out in the next Build Bulletin for an update.
Sector 3: Our team has completed a redesign of this sector in Wheldrake which requires one more pole to be installed. This pole will ensure full fibre can reach those living on Main Street and Millfield Court. We had planned to install this pole in April, however this has now been moved to May. All the other major civils works are done. So, once the pole is in, we’ll be able to start building, splicing and testing the network! The last few steps before being able to get it up and running for residents in sector 3.
Next steps
Sector 1: Now that Broad Highway’s poles are in, all that’s left to do is blow, splice and test the fibre network! If you’ve registered your interest with us online, our home install team will be in touch as soon as full fibre is available for your property.
Sector 2: Progress in sector 2 will depend on whether or not the above-mentioned wayleave can be obtained. Stay tuned for an update next month!
Sector 3: Our main focus will be installing the pole, which will ensure the network is extended to those on Main Street and Millfield Court. Once that’s done, we’ll be moving through the building, splicing and testing process to get the network up and running for those in sector 3.
