On 2ndDecember 2021, Richard Randall confirmed the following:

"Today we hit the critical  milestone of raising sufficient funds through the  gigabit voucher claim process to cover the implementation of the fibre upgrade programme.  We have had 78 validated claims with a value total of £157,000,  covering the BT Openreach cost of £152,000.    In the words of our Openreach Engagement Manager - Martin - the 'Hardest part is now over!'.

What happens next is another step into the unknown...Openreach should now get contract approval from DCMS to proceed and Martin raises the approval on the delivery task. Completion should be within 12 months of contract - but this is the DCMS we are dealing with, so who knows !!   Please be patient as it has taken well over a year to get the funding in place through DCMS – and  this is a long game....

And a very big thank you to the team who have supported the process that has got us to this point – Aileen, Clive, Liz, Richard, Hugh, Roger and  Simon"

For more information about this project,  potential benefits and action required by residents, click HERE

Let’s plant 21 trees in 2021!

Updated 17/10/21

There was no winning entry to the prize competition.

Updated 09/05/21

We've hit the target! Thanks to everyone who has taken part. Don't forget the prize competition is open to entries until 30th September 2021 - a £50 garden voucher up for grabs!

Update

26/09/21

ACTION REQUIRED BY ALL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SIGNED-UP FOR FTTP BROADBAND

In the last 24 hours, every resident or business in Overthorpe or Warkworth that previously committed to the Broadband Project should have received an e-mail from the Dept. of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) asking you to confirm your pledge of a voucher to enable Openreach to install fibre broadband to every property in Overthorpe and Warkworth.

If you have not received an e-mail, please check your junk e-mail/spam folder first, then if you have definitely not received a message, send a note to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know.

The e-mail from DCMS will look like this:

Please follow the instructions in the e-mail, and click on the link that will take you to a web page headed ‘Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme’. You will be asked to confirm whether you are applying as a Business, Sole Trader or Resident*. You are required to tick a box confirming acceptance of the Terms of the Voucher, and then enter your full name. Click ‘Confirm’.

You will then receive a confirmation e-mail from DCMS that looks like this:

To help us keep track of Openreach’s progress, would you please forward the confirmation e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This will enable us to keep pressure on Openreach to start the next phase of the project. Please note there is a 28 day time limit on the DCMS pledge process and we will be chasing anyone who is yet to confirm their pledge before the deadline.

Once DCMS have confirmed Voucher funding to Openreach, completion of fibre installation should take no more than 9 months.

* Please ensure you select the right option - if you previously indicated that you run a business at your address (either as a registered company or a sole trader), please do the same now. Some additional information may be required to confirm your status.

17 August 2021

After a four month hiatus  the Department of Culture, Media and Sport ( DCMS) have now  updated their systems, so we are now in position to start moving our Community Fibre upgrade project forward again.

Our immediate action is to update the list of all residents and properties that wish to be within the scope of the project. who will receive the fibre upgrade delivered by BT Openreach.  If you have already provided your details through the survey form and were on the initial list created before Christmas for the project assessment by the DCMS then there is nothing more that you need to do at this time if you wish to remain on the list (there will be some actions for you to take but we will let you know more as the project progresses).

If you are a new resident within our community since the start of 2021,  or your details have changed, then please update the project team through the SURVEY FORM.  Our intention is to close the upgrade list and formalise the active project scope with BT Openreach by the end of August, and agree the contracts through September.  Please take this opportunity to be included by providing your update in good time.

Many of the questions regarding this project are  answered by the information on this webpage below. However, for individual questions the project team are happy to help and can be contacted as follows:.

Overthorpe residents  to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Warkworth residents to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Parish Council currently has a vacancy for a Councillor due to the resignation of Martin Holt. The Parish Council needs members with a range of experience and knowledge and would welcome applications from any members of the community who fulfil the criteria below. The Parish Council meets 4 times per year (currently via zoom) at 7/7:30pm depending on the availability of the councillors.

CRITERIA FOR STANDING AS A PARISH COUNCILLOR

Candidates must fit at least one of the following criteria –

• On Electoral Register (i.e. registered to vote) for the parish
• Have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area over the last 12 months
• Lived within 3 miles of the parish over the last 12 months
• Their principal place of work is in the parish and has been for at least 12 months

If you have any questions or would like to put your name forward to be considered for co-option please contact the clerk on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01295 275372.

On behalf of the village’s wildlife, thank you to everybody who took part in this year’s “Make Overthorpe a wildlife-friendly village” competition! The deadline for entries has now passed and it is time to announce this year’s Wildlife Champions…