A Cornish church has stepped in to help the villagers of Polperro receive fibre optic broadband.
Engineers rolling out superfast broadband faced a major headache when they came to provide the high-speed technology in the picturesque Cornish village.
A new green cabinet needed to be installed – but extensive investigations failed to find a single suitable location in Polperro.
Mark Morris, a manager for Openreach, BT’s local network business, explained: “Polperro is a beautiful village, but the narrowness of the roads and the lack of pavements made it impossible to find a roadside location for a new cabinet. Without this equipment, there could be no high-speed broadband in Polperro.
“So we started talking to Polperro Methodist Church in the hope that they would allow the equipment to be installed in their church yard. It was really the only location which was viable. Thank heaven, they were tremendously helpful and allowed us to go ahead.”
Rev Ruth Goodland, the superintendent minister for the Liskeard and Looe Methodist Circuit, which includes Polperro, said: “We didn’t want Polperro to miss out on this exciting technology and so were delighted to help. Working with and for the local community is very important to us.”
Edwina Hannaford, Cornwall Councillor for Looe West and Lansallos, said: “I am delighted that Polperro is connected to superfast broadband and for the support the Methodist Church has given in making it happen; the Church is at the heart of the community.
“Whether it’s a small Polperro business competing in the global market, or granny and grandpa talking to their grandchildren in Australia, superfast broadband can change the lives of people for the better in rural communities like Polperro.”
