News: Laurence Turner leads debate on telegraph poles

Press release

WEST MIDLANDS TELEGRAPH POLE INSTALLATION DEBATED IN PARLIAMENT

Minister seeking meeting with BRSK, and threatens new legislation

Laurence Turner, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Northfield, led an adjournment debate in the House of Commons today on the issue of ‘planning permission and telegraph poles.’

Residents’ complaints about telegraph poles in Birmingham have already attracted national local and national attention, and Ofcom is currently investigating broadband rollout in south Birmingham.

MPs were told that some telegraph poles in the Northfield area were ‘unwanted, unneeded, and obtrusive.’ Similar issues were raised about poles in Bournville, Edgbaston, Dudley, and Redditch.

Laurence Turner argued that there had been a lack of engagement and consultation, as well as concerns over the complaints procedure which ‘fails to go further than the company providing written responses detailing the reasons why the complaint is accepted or rejected.’

He called for a better code of practice to ensure the fulfilment of the Government’s ambition to a full gigabit coverage by 2030, as well as a stronger role for Ofcom in enforcing the Code.

In response, the Minister of State, Chris Bryant, said that a small selection of companies were ‘behaving like cowboys.’ He said that he was looking to meet with network operator BRSK in the forthcoming weeks, and that providers should ‘fully understand the concerns of many Birmingham MPs… [and] understand the Government’s concerns in this field.’

The Minister also said then the Government would be prepared to introduce new legislation is a strengthened code of practice, expected in the New Year, did not address the issue.

Commenting, Laurence Turner, MP for Birmingham Northfield, said:

’This issue is causing real problems for some residents.

’We all want better broadband connections and poles will be the right answer in some areas, but residents should know what is proposed in their area and have the chance to object.

’Intrusion and loss of pavement access are real challenges and it is not good enough to expect companies to mark their own homework.

‘I’m encouraged by the Minister’s statement today that legislation could follow if the problem isn’t resolved, and I will certainly be following up on behalf of residents.’

ENDS

The debate can be watched here and a transcript can be read here.