A self-isolating couple are able to see their family members across the world after their three-year campaign to improve one of the worst internet connections in the country ended last month.
Roger and Pam Langstaff, of Pipwell Gate in Saracen’s Head, started lobbying authorities in 2017 after the street was named the seventh slowest in the UK for broadband connections.
After three years of campaigning, which included being invited by BT to the Houses of Parliament for a function with the company’s CEO, the service was finally put in last month.
It was particularly good timing for Roger (71) and Pam (67)who are self-isolating through the COVID-19 crisis so they can keep in contact with their friends and family.
But they’re both also delighted their neighbours can now work from home as they hadn’t been able to previously and that those unable to go to school presently can download lessons.
Roger said: “If you ever tried to watch anything online you’d just end up watching that little wiggly worm going round and round.
“Sometimes the internet connection speed would be literally zero. If you were lucky and no-one else in the street was online, the highest it would get is 1.5.
“When we saw that our street was one of the worst in the UK, that’s when we started to contact Lincolnshire County Council and BT.”
It took a while but partly thanks to a government grant awarded last November, the new connection was finally installed in March.
“It’s fantastic thing to have and vital at this time,” said Roger. “I have a son who lives in New Zealand and two daughters in Australia as well as friends in South Africa and now we can Facetime or Skype them easily.
“Pam’s daughters are still in Lincolnshire, but as we’re self-isolating we’re having to contact them online too. It was especially nice wishing one of them happy birthday last Friday when we couldn’t be with her.
“I’m most pleased though for those around us, many of whom had for years wanted to work from home but who haven’t been able to until now.
“Now the kids can get their schoolwork too while the schools are out.”
The fibre broadband should improve internet speeds for the whole of Saracen’s Head, however the lockdown came too soon for that to be widely felt.
“They have to go into homes, so when the lockdown came that installation ended,” Roger said. “But hopefully it will be completed when everything returns to normal.”
