A study by the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA) in the summer of 2010 showed that the Henley constituency (which now runs from the edge of Bicester to the edge of Reading) was likely to be at best only partially served by Next Generation Broadband.
The broadband revolution has forgotten too many of our villages. Speeds are so slow that they are practically unusable. It's a problem for many in the constituency. Those wanting to work from home and businesses in a rural area like ours find it difficult. Those that are ill may not be able to get on-line healthcare information. Students often cannot do research for homework and it is cutting people off from the social networking broadband can bring. There are also accounts of people being unable to sell their houses because the buyers needed broadband and mobile access as an essential.
I have already held talks with BT to understand the work they are undertaking to ensure the constituency is covered. I have also raised with the county council the possibility of villages being able to use the broadband networks which are associated with village schools and remain unused out of school hours and for large stretches of school holidays. I am happy to see that this idea is now being seriously considered.
To take this forward I have a plan to
•Identify the examples of how this problem has been solved in other areas
•Keep the pressure up on BT as a key provider to tackle the problem in the constituency as quickly as possible
•Work with other providers to facilitate solutions for the area
•Work with local Parish Councils to identify the not-spots in the constituency and to identify the market for the use of fibre optic cables in local authority facilities such as schools
•Work with the County Council to encourage the use of school facilities
I was pleased to be part of a series of digital summits for Oxfordshire which are designed to keep the pressure up on the county council. I have also been working with James Elles MEP and members of the Oxford Economic Partnership to ensure that a proper business plan is put together to enable better broadband and mobile technology to be rolled out. The county council has since said that access to broadband and mobile is at the top of its agenda. During 2011 we plan another set of summits to make sure it is and that real progress is being made
DEFRA has pointed out that one third of all farmers have no internet access and yet it is increasingly assumed they will file their forms for payment online. It is also a major disadvantage to those without access who cannot download information on weather, disease patterns and market prices - all essential tools of the industry.
High speed broadband campaign
Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up to a campaign to help secure government funding towards getting faster roadband and better mobile phone coverage in rural areas of the county, including South Oxfordshire. The 'OxOnline' campaign has been launched by Oxfordshire County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership to prove that communities and businesses in Oxfordshire want and need access to faster broadband, and are willing to invest to bring improved network services into their areas. To help with the campaign, all businesses are being asked to complete the online survey. This will help make the case for funding to improve the local service.
To find out more, see the county council's broadband and mobile coverage page.
I have summarised below examples of real constituency cases with which I have been asked to help. Personal and identifying details have been removed to protect the privacy of those involved.
Student Finance
A mature student found her student loan tuition fees unpaid after administrative errors had been made. We got the matter resolved so that studies could continue. The constituent said: 'Thank you so much for this, you've managed to sort this in under a week when I've been trying for over 6 months.'
Visa Problems
A constituent requested us to intervene with the UK Borders Agency after the Agency had taken over a year to deal with his case. By working with the Agency and the constituent on the detail of the case we were able to resolve it successfully.
Child Support Agency
After years of trying to resolve his case with the Child Support Agency we were able to cut through the clerical errors and complexity of the case so that correct payments could be made. The case could only be resolved by patient determination over a number of months.
Planning enforcement
Although planning is outside our normal remit, we were able successfully to challenge on behalf of constituents a local district council as to whether it was following due process in relation to a persistent breach of planning which was causing a significant nuisance.
Sewage and water
On behalf of local parish councils we have been able to work with Thames Water to focus on problems of sewage and drainage across a wide area to ensure progress in resolving issues underlying raw sewage washing down a village street.
HMRC
HMRC was about to take action against a local small business, despite having got its tax affairs in order, which would have made it difficult for it to operate. Successful intervention persuaded HMRC that the action they wanted to take was inappropriate.
Air Traffic
In response to complaints about increased aircraft noise, we were able to clarify with the air authorities how aircraft movements are mananged and the reasons why Henley and surrounding villages experience variations in aircraft noise.
Pensioner overpayment
We helped a pensioner negotiate an apparent over-payment of Pension Credit and the details for repayment.
Utilities
We assisted a constituent gain proper compensation from a utilities company following an accident.
Housing
We took up the case of housing for a former member of the armed forces.
