Celebration As B4RN 4 Crook Enters Build Phase

August 11th, 2022
Author: Mark Gray
Posted In: Latest news

Volunteer Andy Brown and B4RN CEO Michael Lee cut the ribbon (ducting)

Volunteers, staff and local councillors gathered as B4RN 4 Crook celebrated their project entering the build phase.

Crook is the latest South Lakes community which can look forward to being connected to gigabit full fibre broadband on the B4RN network.

It’s a big milestone for the local volunteer group, who started making this happen back during the pandemic. They’ve since worked tirelessly to raise sign up; raise investment; and secure wayleaves.

A couple of dozen people met at Crook Memorial Hall on Wednesday (10th August). The Crook volunteer group lead, Andy Brown, and B4RN CEO Michael Lee said a few words before everybody was fed and watered. Thank you to the team at the Hall for the wonderful hospitality.

Photos were then taken at what will be the site of the local cabinet, while some ceremonial ducting was cut to officially begin the B4RN 4 Crook build.

Connecting People and Building Communities

Boyd lives near Staveley and is a volunteer with the B4RN 4 Crook project:

“The obvious benefit of B4RN is giving hyperfast broadband to communities where they don’t normally have access to it.

“But I think there’s so much more – connecting people and building communities.

“I have a long-standing connection to the area but only moved back here five years ago. Apart from knowing my immediate neighbours I didn’t really know anyone else in the community.

“Once we had the B4RN project, even during the pandemic, I started connecting with the wider community through Zoom. Ten we started doing wyleaves, meeting with landowners, farmers, diggers – a huge variety of people.

“That’s built a real sense of community within the Crook area. And I think it won’t just be a short-term thing, I see this as enduring links with people I would never otherwise have met.

“I’m driving along now and can wave and say hello to people within a four/five mile radius!”

Anyone in the Crook area (or anywhere else in the B4RN network) who wants symmetrical gigabit full fibre broadband can sign up here.

Volunteers, B4RN staff, councillors and locals gathered for the celebration.

The proposed site of the cabinet which will serve the Crook project.

Volunteers and staff had the chance to meet and catch up.

Thanks to the team at Crook Memorial Hall for the drinks, sandwiches and sweet treats!

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