Hundreds of residents on a Kingswinford housing estate have voiced strong opposition to new telegraph poles near their homes.
Local MP Mike Wood has backed residents living on the Charterfields Estate, just off Stallings Lane in Kingswinford, who have signed a petition which objects to the installation of new telecoms poles in their area.
The proposed installation by broadband provider BRSK would see new telecoms poles with overhead cables in multiple locations across the estate, despite the estate specifically being designed in the 1960’s with underground telecommunications to avoid the need for overground infrastructure.
Residents, Mike Wood MP and local councillors are concerned that the company are choosing not to use existing underground infrastructure as they are required to do by government guidance, instead opting to use overground telegraph poles and cabling that unnecessarily blight their streets.
Mike Wood MP said: "I can understand why residents are angry, and hopefully BRSK will see sense and amend their plans so the estate's character will not be changed forever.
"The strength of feeling here at Charterfields and at other locations around the area is clear, and so is the Government guidance which states that providers should be sharing existing infrastructure or using underground options wherever possible.
“BRSK therefore need to go back, speak to other providers and change their plans."
Phil Hall, a Charterfields Estate resident who coordinated the petition said: “Charterfields was built in the late 1960’s early 1970’s with a unique feature – that all telecommunications were installed underground. This design has allowed us residents to enjoy an unspoiled street scene free from the usual network of telegraph poles and telephone cables and this is how we want to keep it.
“We are not opposed to new Full Fibre network technology just the manner it is being installed”.
Hundreds of residents on the estate have signed the petition which states they do not want new telegraph poles installed on their streets, nor do they require the services BRSK are providing.
Mr Hall recently submitted the petition signatures to BRSK. Mr Hall and local MP Mike Wood have also raised their concerns with the Minister of State for Media and Data, Julia Lopez MP.
