There’s been a lot of talk about telegraph poles going up in Hedon and Preston recently, and understandably people are upset about this.
I’ve been taking action over the past month to do what I can to minimise the impact of these poles not just in Hedon and Preston, but across my constituency.
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I’ve arranged a meeting with MS3, ERYC and Ward Councillors to open dialogue between the community, council and MS3. Since that meeting I’ve spoken to MS3 on many occasions to press the concerns of residents.
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I’ve written to Ofcom about KCOM’s monopoly and have encouraged MS3 to report KCOM to Ofcom if they have complaints about not being able to get quick and reasonably priced access to their infrastructure.
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I’ve received confirmation that MS3 will not go into conservation areas without local consent. Indeed, its CEO has told me that it will go beyond what it is required to do in terms of consultation.
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I’m encouraging MS3 and Connexin to work together to reach agreement on sharing infrastructure. If agreement can’t be reached with KCOM to share their ducts and poles I do not want multiple sets of overhead cables.
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I’ve raised this with the minister for digital infrastructure to encourage changing 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.
I hope this pressure will result in the Government and Ofcom taking notice and result in KCOM making it easier to share infrastructure; and for incoming competitors to be compelled to share their cables.
This letter was originally published in the Holderness Gazette on 19th October 2019.
