AFTER years without high-speed broadband, the residents of Welshwood Park in Colchester decided to fund the upgrade themselves.

It came as part of a community project by the Welshwood Park Residents’ Association which was fed up having waited two years for Essex County Council to include the area in its broadband upgrade plans.

The residents’ association raised £23,000 to install a fibre optic cabinet in Welshwood Park Road.

Peter Halliday, chairman, said: “Before the work, broadband speeds were inadequate to allow working from home. Even placing a supermarket order or renewing a car licence were laborious tasks with users regularly experiencing ‘time-outs’.

“At first the costs seemed prohibitive but we were just determined.

“Committee members went from house to house explaining the need for faster broadband and asking residents to make a contribution.

“Some residents understandably felt it wasn’t relevant to them but most were very supportive and generous.”

By October last year, it signed a contract with BT Openreach and it took until Christmas to complete the project and iron out all the technical hitches.

Now families can access broadband speeds between 20 and 30 times faster than they were getting before.

Mr Halliday said: “One grateful resident told us it was great to be able to choose a film to watch in the evening without having to decide a week in advance just to allow time for it to download.”

The committee thanked borough councillor Paul Smith for his support. He advised them and helped them to get funding.

The Welshwood Park Residents’ Association wants to help other communities thinking of taking a similar step.

Email Mr Halliday at welshwoodparkra@outlook.com for more information.