A massive 40ft pole built at the end of a pensioner’s driveway was removed by a broadband supplier after a ‘David vs Goliath’ battle.
Philip Waller, 65, went ‘ballistic’ when he arrived home to find that Connexin had installed a 16ft pole from his living room window.
He spent the next few weeks collecting dozens of complaint letters from neighbors and presenting them to the local council.
The grandfather-of-ten was initially denied by the company but Barnsley Council later confirmed it had been installed without ‘due process’ and ordered it removed.
A relieved Philip, who fears his £300,000 bungalow will be left ‘worthless’ if the poles remain standing, said: ‘We only won because what we did was illegal, but if I hadn’t objected, it would have been. forever.
‘The big issue I think is that companies think they can steamroll over people.’
Philip, a company director, said he had left his three-bedroom house to go shopping on May 30.
Her husband then received a knock on the door from some workman, who said they came to fit ‘something to read the smart water meter’.
But ten minutes later, he found himself erecting a pole only six inches from the entrance.
Philip, who came home to see the pylon up, said: ‘We had no warning before, but apparently the company is not obliged to give notice 28 days longer because the pole is covered by fiber optic roll-out regulations.’
He added: ‘I have a house in Burgundy, France. In the same situation, the stake would be burned now.’
Connexin said in written correspondence that it has the right to install the pylon because it has obtained a valid permit from the local council.
A representative told Philip: ‘Unfortunately, the Planning Team has decided that this pole will remain in its current position.
‘When sending the location of the proposed pole to the Highways and Planning Department of the council, we always have some flexibility meters because of the chance that utilities can be found on the day of installation, which makes the planned location inappropriate.
‘Because of this, the pole has been installed in the approved area for the pole… We will not be able to move the pole, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.’
Philip continues to fight his corner and is in touch with Barnsley councilor James Higginbottom, the cabinet spokesman for the Environment and Highways.
The question suggests that Connexin does not have the right to erect the mast.
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has now ordered its removal – and it is expected to be moved around 500ft to a grassy patch of land.
Mr Higginbottom said: ‘I fully understand Mr Waller’s frustration and I have supported him in this matter.
‘I am happy to confirm that due process was not carried out when this pole was erected and notice has been given to remove it.
‘No one is disputing that infrastructure needs to be built but this needs to be done properly and in a way that does not cause unnecessary disruption to local residents.’
Philip advises other homeowners who find a broadband pole in front of their property to object and not give up.
He said of his dealings with the communications company responsible for him: ‘Don’t believe a word they say.
‘Contact your local council and find out if they have a license to put up poles.’
A Connexin spokesperson told Metro: ‘The telecommunications pole, which is part of the Internet of Things network to enable data collection from smart meters across the community, was placed in Dove Road, Wombwell, by mistake.
‘After reviewing the permission application and advice from Barnsley Council, we requested the relocation of the pole to a new and more suitable location.
‘We apologize to the residents affected by our mistake. We would like to thank Councilor Higginbottom and the Network Coordination team at Barnsley Council for helping to resolve this matter quickly and effectively.’
This article was originally published on June 20, 2024.
Contact the news team by emailing webnews@metro.co.uk.
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