PEOPLE living in Ashton have been told a broadband company is reviewing how it will install connections after concerns were raised over how they would look.
Brsk has the contract to supply fibre internet to areas in Ashton-under-Lyne and Dukinfield.
But Sue and David Broadbent raised their fears after seeing notices placed warning of plans to install telegraph poles.
Councillor Dan Costello also made his objections clear.
However, Brsk has told The Correspondent arrangements in some areas are being reviewed, meaning poles may not go up.
The Broadbents stated: “Signs from Brsk have appeared on lamp posts on parts of Newmarket Road, Oldham Road, Leech Homes Estate and the bottom end of Limehurst Farm Estate.
“The sign on Grovewood Close states that a telegraph pole is planned to be installed in the garden of no 23.
“This means that anyone having Brsk Broadband will have an overhead wire going to their house from the pole.
“The street will look like a spider’s web if residents buy the service!
“Brsk is not putting telegraph poles on the former Lakes Rod School site in Dukinfield, it is putting new cables underground.
“We note in neighbouring wards how fibre broadband has been installed entirely underground.
“Why is Waterloo ward being treated differently? It is a backward step to allow telegraph poles and wires to blot the area.”
Cllr Costello, who represents neighbouring Hurst, added: “Prior to the notices going up, I had already written to Brsk to ask for clarity on whether, and when, they would be installed and to make clear my own objection to these and that of the many residents who have already contacted me.
“This is a disgraceful infringement on the rights of residents which, unfortunately, can be done without express permission.
“It is a lazy solution to a problem and a forward-thinking tech company ought to put in the right investment to find a modern, fit for purpose solution, rather than something first used in the 1850s.”
And in Ashton Hurst, poles will be installed after a meeting with councillors.
Cllr Costello added: “I am personally very disappointed with the outcome of the meeting.
“I stressed that I thought Brsk were forcing an 1850s solution on residents who do not want it because of their own laziness and lack of investment in a modern, fit for purpose, solution, but, against the weight of their own greed, such an argument had little impact.
“Brsk are a disgrace, their greedy approach is a disgrace and their arrogant hiding behind legislation to impose a 170-year-old solution because of their own inability to develop a better solution is an absolute disgrace.”
However when asked, Brsk told The Correspondent changes may happen in Waterloo before installation.
On Newmarket Road, large quantities of existing poles mean it is likely they will be used.
Limehurst Farm Estate has underground ducting available, so BRSK is looking into using this and on Grovewood Close, a planned pole cannot be placed in a garden and it is currently under review to see if they can go ahead without it.
In a lengthy response, the firm added: “Our network is built within and on the existing telecommunications infrastructure both overhead and underground, under Code Powers issued by OFCOM, using the Openreach PIA (Physical Infrastructure Access) Product.
“However, sometimes the existing infrastructure is insufficient for us to serve some premises, and on these occasions, we need to upgrade it to provide services to all residents, which means adding our own.
“We will always endeavour to use existing infrastructure as much as possible, as this benefits our rollout in deploying our network faster.
“When this isn’t possible, planting of poles where necessary is widely used within the industry, and generally accepted as the most effective, and most environmentally friendly option, to upgrade infrastructure.
“Where a large amount of infrastructure already exists underground, this leaves no space for any new infrastructure.
“Not only can opening trenches also be extremely disruptive for long periods of time, this can also create significant risk to the other services in the ground, such as water and electricity, leaving residents without these while they are being repaired.
“The poles are placed in locations which cause the least disruption to residents, and any residents who may be impacted are directly communicated with through our engagement process so that we can discuss and do our best to accommodate where possible.
“We only stand poles on public land and therefore private property such as gardens would not be selected as a location for a pole.
“In the area in question, we need to use overhead infrastructure because there are buried Openreach cables, which means there is no duct for us to access underground, leaving overhead as our only option to connect residents to full fibre.
“Having already built a full fibre broadband network that spans over 500,000 homes across various regions of the UK, with 226,000 of those in Manchester alone, we have naturally encountered queries and concerns along the way, however this has been minimal in relation to the total build completed.
“We have received no complaints from the area in question, however we have a transparent communication policy and welcome any residents with concerns or questions to get in touch, and our dedicated teams will be happy to assist.
“In the council district of Ashton Waterloo, there are 248 existing Openreach poles that we will make use of as much as possible.
“Where we aren’t able to use this or where there might be significant gaps in the network that need to be accommodated for, our initial plan is to install 50 additional telegraph poles across the area, which will service nearly 4,000 homes.
“We’re proud to be making Ashton Under-Lyne one of the best digitally connected areas in the country ahead of the national deadline.”
Ever since they started work on Stamford street east near the purple olive and Albion church I have had problems with my current broadband never any problems before but now it drops out four to five times a day I have contacted my broadband provider who says that there an no problems showing so why does it keep dropping out they couldn’t give me an answer
Keep on at whoever you pay your bills to. If the network is damaged (possible strike on the apparatus if other civils have happened in the area recently).
If the existing network is damaged, then (assuming it’s Openreach) they will likely seek to charge the other utility that may have damaged the asset.
Simple solution to this, don’t build FTTP in areas that object to the telegraph poles. Put out notices to state clearly that due to locals objecting to progress, the whole street/area will be left.
The other solution is clearly tell those who hate telegraph poles that works will involve digging up the highway, take longer, and STILL leave reinstatments showing (some people think that old gray faded tarmac will be put back into the footway/carriageway trenches!!!). Then, here is the best part, charge those who didn’t want the telegraph poles more!
On Hartshead Estate that is predominantly pole free, Virgin have dug up the pavement and installed ductwork and a feed the the majority of the premises.
If fibre to the premises is wanted, Virgin can be utilised, no need for unsightly telegraph pole an wires.
We can contact them .. sure we can I rang the number on the notice that was attached to a lamp post only to be told by an animated message to email instead . I then phoned once more and pressed for the option to have their service of broadband installed who then put me through to support , only to be told they couldn’t help, but wanted lots of information of my address , name ,email and phone number . I told them why do I need. to give you all my personal details when just a phone number would suffice for someone to get back to me and explain where the pole was going to be placed , I left them my contact number for the right department to get in touch with me . And lie and behold …. NOTHING… no contact what so ever .. so they say they have a dedicated team to take your queries … I don’t think so .. it’s non existent hence why they say they have had no complaints as no one can speak to the right person and you will be waiting for the never never to get a call back when you speak to the support team .. what a joke
Lyndhurst Avenue , Green Kane have also had notices published on lamp posts to inform poles will be being put up
The email address on the notice posted on lamposts is brsk in South Africa . They send out relies which are merely delaying tactics, they are not actioned! I have sent 4 emails to them and receive a standard response but no detailed reply.
Nice job Brsk putting through an electric cable whilst installing it be if your poles .. thanks for leaving us with no electricity for hours on end with electricity men now having to work through the night . Who in their right minds digs a deep hole for a pole to go into in between two lamp post , in spite of being told by a homeowner that the power cables were right where they were about to dig …. What a disgrace this company is