Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, has heard the concerns of over forty Hedon residents about the installation of telegraph poles.
Graham has been working over the last month to limit the impact of this unnecessary street furniture on the people of Hedon.
Accompanied by Councillors Sue Steel, John Dennis and Steve Gallant, last Saturday Graham heard the concerns of local campaigners for almost an hour.
He spoke to residents of Westlands Road, accompanied by Cllr Gallant, hearing their views on the controversial telegraph poles.
To minimise the impact of these poles, Graham arranged a meeting with MS3, ERYC and Ward Councillors to open a dialogue between the community, council and MS3. Since that meeting, he has spoken to MS3 on many occasions to press the concerns of residents.
Following his meeting with KCOM, Graham wrote to Ofcom regarding KCOM’s monopoly and has encouraged MS3 to report KCOM to Ofcom if they have complaints about being unable to get quick and reasonably priced access to their infrastructure.
Following these meetings, Graham received confirmation that MS3 will not intrude into conservation areas without local consent. Indeed, its CEO, Guy Miller, told him that it will go beyond what it is required to do in terms of consultation.
Graham has also raised this matter with the minister responsible for digital infrastructure, John Whittingdale MP, and encouraged him to change regulations to compel companies to share overhead cables.
Residents are right to be concerned about broadband cables being erected overhead and should look at those being installed very carefully to make sure they don’t contravene the reasons stated by MS3 as grounds for a cable being re-sited. These are:
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The location of a telecommunications pole impacts upon a person with a disability (they may request proof of disability).
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The location of a telecommunications pole impacts upon access to a resident’s driveway.
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A resident has planning approved for a dropped kerb with ERYC.
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A telecommunications pole is blocking a road sign.
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A telecommunications pole is located adjacent to or obstructing a monument.
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A telecommunications pole is planned or installed on private land without a wayleave.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart commented: “I’m against these ugly and unnecessary poles that are springing up all over Hedon.
“It is clear that after the irritation of our roads being dug up everywhere for KCOM’s broadband, everyone should be free to use their ducts as happens everywhere else in the country.
“That’s why I’m working with OFCOM and the Government to make this situation impossible in the future and I look forward to pressing this point further in the coming weeks.”
