Virgin Media has confirmed that Champs sur Marne in Bradley Stoke will not be hooked up to high speed internet despite a cable being installed in the road.

Readers of The Bradley Stoke Examiner spotted that the firm was laying a cable to Bradley Stoke Community School.

The story was also run in the Journal who were told that it was “unlikely” the road would benefit from high-speed broadband.

Now a spokeswoman for the company has told us that the cable was being installed by its business division which means homes will definitely miss out.

“This would be classed as a business premise and served therefore by business services (ntl:Telewest business, part of Virgin Media),” she said.

“This is nothing to do with installing a residential infrastructure, which is what would be required to serve the areas you refer to.”

We have been campaigning for Virgin to complete its broadband network in Bradley Stoke and so far more than 226 residents have lobbied the company.

All you need to do to help us ensure Virgin Media completes its broadband roll-out in Bradley Stoke is e-mail cablemystreet@virginmedia.co.uk

Note: When you e-mail Virgin Media can you please remember to include your full postal address.

A teenager is recovering after being bitten by a snake being brandished by a gang in Bradley Stoke.

The incident, which took place on Merryweather Close, took place on Saturday afternoon, is now being investigated by police.

Great Western Ambulance Service were called after the teen was “pinned to a wall” and the snake then forced to bite its victim.

A police spokesman said the 14-year-old boy was subjected to racist abuse during the incident.

He was taken to nearby Frenchay Hospital for treatment to his arm and for help with breathing problems.

Incident support officer Michael Howells said: “In order to try and identify the type of snake I Googled ‘snakes’ on my mobile to show the patient.

He was reasonably sure he could identify the type, so I sent the image to our control room.”

The control room then contacted Bristol Zoo who said it was probably a non-venomous type of python.

Mr Howells added: “Although the patient was suffering breathing difficulties after the attack, this was probably due to panic rather than a reaction to the bite – I would probably be panicky if that happened to me.”

The RSPCA are also thought to be involved in the investigation into the incident.

Updated to include police information.

Some 226 residents, 10% of those not hooked up to Virgin Media, have e-mailed to plead with the company to cable Bradley Stoke.

Around 2,000 homes are not connected to the firm’s high-speed network in the town which suffers the worst broadband speeds in Bristol.

Virgin says it wants 1,500 to e-mail before it would consider completing the network in Bradley Stoke.

Meanwhile, thinkbroadband.com’s broadband “not-spot” map has reinforced how bad internet speeds are here.

We reported in May how the website was showing poor speeds here but now more people have contributed to the site it clearly shows Bradley Stoke to be the single worst area in Bristol.

BT, for its part, is slowly rolling out a new technology called Fibre to the Cabinet but has twice overlooked Bradley Stoke.

Ironically, bosses there have decided to upgrade several other locations in Bristol such as Downend which do not currently have any issues with broadband speeds.

The telecoms giant told The Bradley Stoke Examiner that our campaign had, at least, been noted.

“BT is… aware of the level of interest/demand in Bristol and will be working closely with government and communications providers to identify the most suitable locations.”

When we told the firm of the constant problems residents have in the town they told us BT sympathised.

“I’m sure the frustration they feel is shared by countless other communities around the UK and this is fully appreciated by BT.”

The spokesman added the issue of Bradley Stoke would be raised.

With coverage of this campaign reaching as far as the Guardian, BBC Radio 5 live and the Politics Show – it remains to be seen how much more needs to be done to convince internet firms of the level of problems here.

Many are denied access to even what many would consider basic services such as the BBC iPlayer – and legally downloading films seems like a distant dream.

The Play Pitch pre-school, based at the Bailey’s Court Activity Centre, has asked to move to a new room within the building.

The pre-school asked Bradley Stoke Town Council for permission “to relocate to the adjoining self contained facility”.

That area is currently being used by the youth club which is due to relocate to Brook Way shortly.

The management of the pre-school says Ofsted has already approved the area for use.

The move would mean the youngsters using the facility would have a dedicated entrance and it would free up areas of Bailey’s Court for rent.

The council meeting discussing the matter also pointed out “the foyer would not be obstructed or affected by noise from parents waiting at critical times during the day”.

Councillors agreed to the switch unanimously and said a date would be set for the move soon.

The new Jubilee Green play park is on course to re-open at the weekend after passing a safety inspection on Friday.

The £150,000 park closed just days after the opening ceremony to allow contractors to complete the site.

The RSPOA green light paves the way for an opening which the Examiner understands could come as soon as Saturday afternoon.

All of the planned equipment is now in place with the exception of a swing, which will be installed after concrete is left to set at the weekend.

Councillor Rob Jones said that the team completing the work have been “unlucky with the weather”.

He added there would still be some “temporary fencing around some of the grass areas”.

Workmen will still be on site until early next week.

Footnote: The park reopened successfully on Saturday.

Work is continuing in a bid to complete the Jubilee Green play park which has closed just days after its opening ceremony.

Pouring rain on Wednesday did not stop contractors hurrying to finish the work at the lottery-funded park.

The heavy rain, though, had turned some of the area surrounding the park into a muddy quagmire.

Councillor Rob Jones said on Tuesday: “Due to the recent wet weather the contractor experienced delays during the building process and was unable to install all the equipment in time for the opening ceremony.”

He added that the town council hoped the park would be open once again by the weekend.

The Jubilee Green play park in Bradley Stoke is to close temporarily while contractors complete work at the site.

The closure was revealed by councillor Rob Jones who posted a message on this website on Tuesday.

He said: “Due to the recent wet weather the contractor experienced delays during the building process and was unable to install all the equipment in time for the opening ceremony.

“However as a lot of hard work, mainly on the part of the Friends Group, had already gone in to organising and publicising the opening ceremony it was decided that it was better to go ahead with the celebrations as planned.

“The town council is very pleased with the large turnout on the day and positive feedback received so far and it is hoped that the site will be completed and reopened in time for the weekend.”

Cllr Jones added the council apologised for “any inconvenience this may cause”.