Plan for Slane hub to tackle poor broadband
A Slane businessman is planning on starting a business hub in the community, to cope with poor broadband issues and isolation concerns.
Peter Whelan, who along with his wife Susan runs The Whole Hoggs pig producing company, is based in Rathmaiden outside Collon, and his sheer frustration with the lack of connectivity has driven him to drastic measures.
“As I speak to you, I am out in a field so I can get signal, and that is the way I am, come sun, rain or snow,” says Peter. “And it’s not as if I’m in the middle of nowhere, as I can see the trucks barreling along the motorway, as I’m just a stone’s throw from the N2.”
Peter runs a successful commercial enterprise, and like many, has had to adapt during the Covid 19 pandemic.
“Restaurants and farmer’s markets are the mainstay of our business, so with those gone, we turned to home deliveries in Louth, Meath and Dublin, and honestly, we have been busier than ever, with extra packing because of precautions,” he explains. “But you are heavily reliant on good communications and connectivity, and I have anything but that. I was on a Zoom meeting last week with several others, and I was standing out in my garden trying to hear people, and I felt very silly; it’s not a good way to do business.
“There are times when I even have to go for a spin in the car to talk to clients, and I know others in Grangegeeth and Lobinstown suffer the same problem.”
His solution is simple; gather like-minded businesses or enterprises and form a hub, where not only can you have good connectivity, but you have the benefit of support and company.
“It’s not just for the broadband issues I think this would be good – there are many other reasons too,” he explains. “Even people with full WIFI when working from home say they would like to have somewhere to go, to get out of the house, and I just want to put it out there and see would others be interested in coming on board.
“We have some amazing local businesses in and around Slane, and if we had something like a hub, you are not only saving people from a daily commute, but they would spend locally. And for around €50 a week, you could get a unit, and most people spend that easily a week on commuting, parking, coffee and lunch.”
Peter has been talking to Gary O’Meara, CEO of Meath Enterprise and John O’Dea, CEO of Tech Ireland, and has received great support from them.
“Smith’s filling station on the Collon Road has great yard space, where you could start with a few comfortable portocabins, and see how we got on,” says Peter, who recently ran for the new party Aontu. “There is something similar in the Kells Tech Hub, and it would take time and imagination, but I think it could be a great asset to the local community, and
I’d love to hear from anyone interested in joining in.”
If you would like to contact Peter about the hub, he’s on 087 942 9866 or peterwhelan6@ hotmail.com.