Lib Dem Councillors Spearhead Petition Against New Telegraph Poles

Lib Dem Councillors Leo Evans and John Dodd have written to local residents after it emerged that Openreach are planning to erect new telegraph poles in several roads. A petition against the poles has also been set up and is available to sign at Hesketh Drive Post Office.

Notices have been placed on Roe Lane, Hesketh Drive, Henley Drive, Rookery Road, Beresford Drive and Montrose Drive that 9 m telegraph poles will be erected by Openreach, a company who manage the telephone and broadband infrastructure in the United Kingdom. The telegraph poles will carry FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) which will link properties up to the Ultrafast Fibre optic broadband network.

Leo Evans, Lib Dem Councillor for Cambridge Ward, commented: “I was contacted by a few angry and surprised residents who had seen these notices appear about the telegraph poles. It’s normal for these cables to be underground and there is currently no explanation from Openreach about why they need to install these cables.”

“That’s why we have written to local residents to let them know that they can sign a petition against the poles at Hesketh Drive Post Office. We have also given people the contact details for Openreach so they can raise any issues directly with the company.”

John Dodd, Lib Dem Councillor Meols ward, added: “Unfortunately under government rules they do not need permission to erect poles under 15ft. Openreach haven’t explained why these poles are needed and there is clearly a lot of concern about the impact of these poles on the local environment. The only way to try and stop this is for affected residents to have their say.”