This is like 2003/04 all over again, except this time we need more help. As you might be aware, BT is running a ‘race’ to decide which of the UK’s smaller exchanges will jump the queue to get super-fast fibre optic broadband (Didcot and the larger towns will get it automatically, but once again we’ll have to fight for it). There will be five winners, and one of them will also get computer equipment worth £5000 for a local school or community project.
The race runs from now until December 31st and simply requires people to vote for their exchange. There’s no cost and no commitment – you just need to stand up and be counted.
For the Blewbury exchange (serving Blewbury, Upton, the Astons, West Hagbourne and part of East Hagbourne) to be in with a chance, we need at least 1,000 votes from all the villages combined.
If you’re on the Internet already, you can vote by going to http://www.racetoinfinity.bt.com/vote/cast and entering your details. It takes less than a minute.
If you’re not on the Internet, you can call Graham de Wilde on 01235 851600, he’s the Upton representative for the campaign and he will place your vote for you. Only one vote is allowed per postal address, and according to BT there are only 1236 postal addresses in all the villages put together. That means in order to get 1000 votes, we need 81% of all our households and businesses to stand up and be counted. So you can see why we need your help! Please vote as soon as you can and ask your friends, family and neighbours to do the same.
Keep up with the campaign as it develops
We’ll report on progress in Upton News and on the village web site. If you want more frequent updates than that, you can contact Chris Whatmore at cwhatmore.tst@btinternet.com and he’ll add you to the campaign mailing list. And for all you social networkers out there, you can follow us on Facebook. You can also follow 0123585infinity on Twitter. Whatever it takes to spread the word and get this done, we’re going to do it!