Open Reach pledge on telegraph poles

Lincoln MP Hamish Falconer has joined the fight to stop communication companies putting up old fashioned telegraph poles on city streets.

Cllr Biff Bean, the City of Lincoln Council member for Hartsholme has been campaigning against companies such as Open Reach using poles when they could install cables underground.

Open Reach was expecting to erect about 40 poles in the Birchwood and Hartsholme areas of the city as part of a national fibre upgrade but have been asked to suspend installation.

In the video above the MP explains how he has received assurances from the company that poles will only be erected when absolutely necessary and that it will respond to local residents’ concerns.

Cllr Bean has put forward a motion to a full council meeting this week calling for companies to adhere to a new best practice on poles ending ‘the unnecessary deployment of telegraph poles.

“Telecommunication companies have a poor record of consulting with residents regarding their planned works, often erecting polices during the day, only for residents to arrive home to be shocked at the new development to their street.”