Graham has written to Julia Lopez, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, to put the demands of residents forward.
Graham laid out five demands regarding the ‘ugly and unnecessary’ telegraph poles, which have blighted Hedon since September and Beverley since December, with poles erected by MS3 and Connexin where underground ducts owned by KCOM already exist.
Over the past few months, Graham has been in regular contact with the companies, ministers, Ofcom, other MPs in the area, the Council, welcomed campaigners to Parliament and more besides.
Graham’s letter makes five requests of the minister, following appeals from over 200 residents.
He asked for the Department for Science and Technology to remind KCOM of its responsibilities to provide fair access to its ducts. While KCOM has contended that it does provide access, MS3 and Connexin claim that it is economically unviable to use their ducts when compared with Openreach’s pricing, which they use elsewhere in the country.
He has requested that the Department create a code of conduct for the erection of broadband poles, so that they are not erected in egregious places like a few feet in front of peoples’ front rooms.
He has requested a review into permitted development, which is what allows the poles to be erected. Graham contends that while poles could be appropriate in areas where there is no economic case for ducts, in areas where they already exist sharing of infrastructure should be the only available option to network builders.
He has also requested that the code of conduct in the Electronic Communications Code be made mandatory for network builders to follow. He is concerned that companies have no incentive to engage with the community, and that engagement should be enshrined in the code.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said: “Residents are fed up with the poles nightmare.
“I’m against these ugly and unnecessary poles, and it’s disappointing that the situation hasn’t changed since September last year.
“Most residents don’t want to see these poles close to their front gardens, even if they are desperate for cheaper broadband bills.
“My conversations with ministers are ongoing, but the people of Beverley and Holderness demand action now, and I will continue to press the Government to provide that action.”
