April - Village Voices

Broadband CampaignThe local campaign for better broadbandin our rural areas got off to agood start in the splendid surroundingsof Bawdsey Manor on March 11 th .Ann Toettcher opened the proceedingsand said that it was ironic this this theformer home of Sir Cuthbert Quilter,the first chairman of the NationalTelephone Company—later to becomeBT—had no satisfactory broadbandtoday. Counsellor Christine Blockwas in the chair. Bruce Page outlinedthe many problems that people werefacing both as individuals and smallbusinesses. Fred Stentiford gave apresentation describing some ways thatmight improve the situation and highlightedsome enterprising communitieselsewhere in the UK that had achievedsome success.Boyton Bird WalkLast Saturdaywasrathercold andcloudy overBoyton Marsh,but those that venturedforth were rewarded with some nicebirds and a few sightings of hares. Itwas pleasing to see some Avocet andthe Skylark was showing well on theground. Thank you all who came, foryour enthusiasm and generosity in donatingover £60 for Boyton Church.A short video was shown of one suchcommunity in the village of Wray inLancashire. Bill Parker from SuffolkCoastal District Council gave an accountof the various initiatives alreadyunderway in the region. Many questionsand comments were raised fromthe floor. Therese Coffey, the prospectivecandidate for the ConservativeParty, said that she was seeing BT soonand asked for questions that could beraised.The meeting closed with the actionsto form a committee to move thingsforward and to report back to the groupin 3 months. If you are interested insecuring better broadband please fillout a questionnaire found attinyurl.com/shottishambroadband.Fred StentifordI know that some of you were interestedin having a list of the birds we sawover three hours. Here it is:redwing, fieldfare, song thrush, blackbird,starling, blackheaded gull, curlew,teal, wigeon, canada goose, bluetit, wood pigeon, goldfinch, blacktailedgodwit, gadwall, redshank, pied wagtail,meadow pipet, mute swan, lapwing, greattit, cormorant, lesser blackbacked gull,morehen, dunnock, herring gull, shellduck,little egret, carrion crow, magpie, reedbunting, jackdaw, oystercatcher, avocet,brent goose, greylag goose, rook, mallard,pheasant, skylark, chaffinch, common gulland wren.Oliver Slessorwww.villagevoices.org.uk April 2010 page 33