Council welcomes ruling on telecoms poles

The installation of the poles led to protests from residents

A council has welcomed a judge's ruling that it acted lawfully over the controversial installation of telecommunications poles in a Worcestershire village.

Campaigners in Broadway had argued that provider FullFibre had not properly consulted Wychavon District Council over the installation of the 22 poles, which they said would cause "visual harm" to the area.

They also said the council had not done enough to prevent the installation.

But in a written ruling, issued following a High Court hearing, a judge dismissed the claim.

The poles were installed on the village's Sands estate in November 2023, leading to protests from locals, who claimed the 36ft (11m) structures were a "monstrosity".

They were installed under permitted development rights, meaning they did not need planning permission.

The campaigners argued the conditions needed for those rights had not been met, and thus the council had failed in its duty.

But Deputy Judge Richard Kimblin KC disagreed, saying: "There were substantive enquiries and exchanges of information between FullFibre and the council."

'Councils are left powerless'

The council's executive board member for planning and infrastructure, Paul Middlebrough, said the judge had confirmed the council's stance that it ultimately had no power to prevent such installations.

But, he added: "We take no pleasure from this ruling as we have sympathy with our residents.

"Giving permitted development rights to the installation of telecommunication poles has resulted in communities across the country having a blight imposed on them against their wishes, while councils are left powerless.

"We urge the government to urgently review the regulations regarding the installation of poles and at the very least amend them."