Chris secures breakthrough for Balquhidder broadband volunteers
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Chris has welcomed confirmation that long‑awaited Government broadband vouchers have finally been approved for Balquhidder Community Broadband, following more than a year of delays.
The volunteer‑led project saw local residents dig and lay 34 kilometres of fibre cable to bring gigabit broadband to the rural village years ahead of commercial providers. Despite this achievement, the group had been unable to reclaim money promised through the UK Government’s voucher scheme, facing repeated delays and administrative hurdles.
Since being elected in July 2024, Chris has been pressing Building Digital UK, the government department responsible for the scheme, to resolve the issue and release the funds. Thanks to his lobbying, the vouchers have now been approved and payment can proceed.
Chris said:
“Balquhidder Community Broadband is a remarkable example of community spirit and determination. Local volunteers rolled up their sleeves and built the digital infrastructure their village needed, years before any commercial supplier would have got round to it.
They deserved recognition and support from the government, but instead, they faced years of unnecessary delays and frustration. I have been pressing for over a year to get this resolved, and I am very glad that the volunteers will now finally receive the funding they were promised. This is a victory for persistence and for the community of Balquhidder.”
A spokesperson for Balquhidder Community Broadband said:
“This is brilliant news. With the help of our partners Bogons Ltd our community volunteers laid and delivered our own gigabit fibre network throughout Balquhidder Glen and up to the Balquhidder Station community. This was a community‑led process using volunteers rather than paid workers to keep the build costs down. This made it possible to build a full gigabit fibre service in a rural mountainous area.
We are particularly grateful to Brandon Butterworth of Bogons Ltd for believing in our project and providing the fibre materials required. The process of applying for the gigabit vouchers to cover the material costs has been a long and often difficult one. The recent determined efforts by our MP Chris Kane has finally paid off and we will be able to put our fibre network service on a sustainable footing.”
This breakthrough ensures that volunteers are reimbursed for the costs incurred in delivering vital digital infrastructure, supports a sustainable community‑owned network, and demonstrates the impact of local advocacy in fixing national‑level delays.
Find out more about the Balquhidder Community Broadband project. Watch Chris’ video of his visit there:
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