Two Applicants For Taunton And Bridgwater

Two applications were received by the ITC for the local delivery franchise for Taunton and Bridgwater. The applicants are:

• Convergence (Somerset) Limited, a jointly-owned subsidiary of The Convergence Group plc and Orbis Trust (Guernsey) Ltd. Convergence proposes to offer service to 71,300 homes by 2002. A cash bid of £426,027 was made.
• TeleWest Communications (Taunton & Bridgwater) Limited, a subsidiary of Telewest Communications plc. Telewest proposes to offer service to 52,854 homes by 2002. A bid of £1001 was made.
  (Cash bids refer to lump sums to be paid every year)

The Department of Trade and Industry and Oftel will be consulted by the ITC to ensure the acceptability of the applicants. The ITC will also determine whether the proposed telecommunication systems will be completed in accordance with the proposed timetables and that service is maintained for the period of the licence.

…The local delivery franchise for Banbury, which covers Banbury, Brackley and Chipping Norton, did not receive any applications.

ITC: 0171 306 7743