Call for telegraph poles installation to be paused

Openreach are installing a full fibre network in Lincoln to bring better broadband to homes and businesses

Broadband company Openreach has been asked to pause the installation of telegraph poles in Lincoln following concerns raised by members of the public.

The company is erecting around 40 poles in the Birchwood and Hartsholme areas as part of a national fibre upgrade.

Ashley Behan from Lincolnshire County Council said they had asked the company to halt the work until it explained "how they're going to engage with the community as part of the best practice guide that they're signed up to".

An Openreach spokesperson said: "We're listening to concerns raised locally and have already arranged meetings with the MP and council to explain our plans in more detail and hear feedback directly."

Companies putting up telegraph poles are not required to obtain planning permission, and local councils can only object if it would pose a problem to the roads or public safety.

Mr Behan said: "Now national legislation does take precedent that they can install telegraph poles without engaging and informing the community.

"However, the part that we would like Openreach to follow is that extra community engagement, letter dropping, speaking to community leaders so that the community understand what's going to be taking place in their streets."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Independent councillor Biff Bean, who represents the area on City of Lincoln Council, said the telegraph poles were "antiquated, old-fashioned 1950s-style technology".

"We don't want our communities covered in them, especially when the option's there to bury the cables," he said.

"Openreach have got to take residents' objections into account, not railroad them through."

A spokesperson for Openreach said they were building a new full fibre network in Lincoln to bring better broadband to homes and businesses.

In a statement, the company said: "Our engineers always aim to use existing infrastructure wherever possible to minimise disruption, and we keep new poles to a minimum. However, in some areas, they're the only way to connect everyone - especially where underground options aren't viable.

"There is strict guidance in place, and we always follow the correct processes whenever we need to put a new pole in place."

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