Tregony Village Hall has recently installed ultrafast broadband by Wildanet, courtesy of the UK government’s Project Gigabit programme. The service will help the much-loved community venue make greater use of digital services and online resources.
Situated at the heart of village life, Tregony Village Hall hosts a varied programme of activities and services for local people, including Tai Chi and Pilates classes, the monthly Tregony Repair Café, NHS sessions and foot clinics, alongside many other groups, meetings, events and community services. The new 500Mbps symmetrical full fibre broadband service installed by Wildanet means visitors can now access fast, reliable internet connectivity throughout the venue.
The installation includes a WiFi booster to extend coverage across the building, as well as a battery backup unit that will provide added resilience in the event of power outages, following disruption experienced locally during periods of poor weather last winter. The 500Mbps service will be provided free of charge to Tregony Village Hall for three years, saving over £1,200.
Mark Lytham, Chair of Tregony Village Hall, said:
“From Tai Chi and Pilates to NHS sessions, foot clinics and the monthly Repair Café, the hall is a real hub for the village and is used by people of all ages. Having reliable WiFi throughout the building will make a real difference to the groups, hirers, volunteers and visitors who use it, supporting everything from online bookings and video calls to learning, presentations and even film streaming. We’re especially pleased that the service is free for three years, meaning more of the hall’s funds can go back into the building and the activities that bring our community together.”
The new Community Hub connection was formally marked with the presentation of a commemorative plaque at the Tregony Repair Café on Saturday, 26th September.
Simon Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer at Wildanet, added:
“Community venues such as Tregony Village Hall play an essential role in rural life across Cornwall. They provide the space for people to meet, access services, learn new skills, improve their wellbeing and take part in activities that contribute to local community life.
We are delighted that this new 500Mbps full fibre connection (both upload and download) will help the hall make the most of digital services and online resources, while also giving its users reliable WiFi connectivity throughout the building. With the service provided free of charge, the Community Hub will deliver both practical digital benefits and a meaningful saving for the hall and the many people who use it.”
Previous installations to community hubs as part of Project Gigabit include St James the Greater Anglican Parish Church and Church Hall in Torpoint, Praa Sands and District Community Hub, Godolphin Cross Community Association and St Keverne Parish Hall, with more community sites set to follow. The rollout is expanding at pace, unlocking new opportunities for growth by helping local communities stay connected.
