MP takes a stand as Chichester bookshop goes without WiFi for nearly two months

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Chichester MP Jessica Brown-Fuller has stepped in to support an independent bookshop, as it closes in on two months without WiFi.

The Sussex Bookshop, on South Street, has been coping without WiFi since it opened just before Christmas – despite the very best efforts of owner Alexis Collins.

The shop, which spreads across three floors, specialises in thoughtful literary gifts and beautiful, special editions of much-loved books. It’s a premise that should work well in Chichester, but Alexis made clear that the lack of broadband connectivity has made it impossible for her to take card payments, with a significant impact on sales.

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Speaking to the Chichester Observer earlier this month, a spokesperson for Vodafone said:"We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Our infrastructure partner, Openreach is aware of the issue and we’re working hard with them to get services up and running as soon as possible. We have provided the customer with a MiFi device to support them with free 4G mobile data in the meantime." Openreach were also contacted for comment.

Chichester MP Jessica Brown-FullerChichester MP Jessica Brown-Fuller
Chichester MP Jessica Brown-Fuller

But Alexis made clear that the MiFi device simply doesn’t meet the needs of a new and growing business – and the lack of broadband connectivity has made it impossible to grow.

Keen to support a local shop, Chichester MP Jessica Brown-Fuller (Lib Dem) has spoken out on her behalf: “Alexis needing to have this sign in her window saying ‘I’m now nearly two months open and I’m unable to operate in the way I want to is unacceptable.

"She’s come into an empty unit here in Chichester – a popular unit, that had a popular bookshop in it previously – and she has to be able to operate that business using the internet. Starting a new business is hard enough without having to navigate a million different companies telling her a million different things.”

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The MP, who was elected last summer, also made clear her concerns for what this could mean for the rest of the city, adding: “I’m going to go away and write a letter to Openreach, first to understand the delay here at The Sussex Bookshop, but I also want to understand capacity for the whole of Chichester. If this shop is having that issue, does that mean that businesses opening up in other empty units are going to face the same problems?”

The letter itself, made available to the Chichester Observer, also asks Openreach what steps are being taken to address this potential issue, and if residential properties take priority over commercial properties when it comes to WiFi connections in the city centre.

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