Uproar as BRSK telegraph poles set to be installed across Billinge

Earlier this month, notices began appearing on lampposts to inform residents of the 10 metre telegraph poles and overhead cables planned to be installed around the Trent Road estate in Billinge.

Considered by many to be a blot on the landscape, the poles are exempt from the usual planning requirements due to the previous government's commitment to installing fibre-optic broadband across the country as quickly as possible.

However, as this exemption has led to a perceived lack of communication in Billinge, there has been uproar as residents have rallied together to resist the plans.

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Concerns raised at 'biggest ever' parish council meeting

Almost one hundred people attended the parish council meeting (Image: Billinge Parish Council)
As news of the BRSK's proposed masts spread around the village, Billinge Parish Council had one of its highest-ever attendances to discuss the plans at last night's meeting.

With residents set to launch a petition to object to the proposals, many raised concerns about the visual impact of the poles, the creosote material that can be used, and the potential impact on future developments. 

More than anything though, the residents’ ire has come from the perceived lack of communication regarding the proposed development.

Stressing that "communication is [its] priority", BRSK said that it has visited more than 1,500 homes in Billinge to inform residents about proposed broadband upgrades.

The telecommunications company also emphasised that telegraph poles are "generally accepted as the most effective and most environmentally friendly option" to upgrade broadband, particularly as the existing infrastructure in Billinge is "not usable".

BRSK further stated that the pole’s creosote substance is used in line with industry standards, and that representatives from the company will meet with councillors to further discuss the plans.

Residents 'heartbroken' about 'spider's web' of poles

Controversial telegraph poles installed in Lancashire last year (Image: Newsquest)
Rebecca Cameron, one of the residents who will be affected by the poles, said: "Everyone was in shock at yesterday's meeting because, from the amount of notices, it seems that a 'spiders web' of poles will be going up across the estate.

"There has been no consultation period and a lack of communication after residents have complained about the plans.

"BRSK said that they have spoken to residents but no one at yesterday's meetings said that they were aware of the telegraph poles, and they believed that any broadband upgrades would be done using the existing infrastructure underground.

"It feels like BRSK do not care about where these poles are going to go, which is heartbreaking because people have lived here and enjoyed Billinge's open spaces for decades, and these space could soon be ruined."

Notices have appeared to inform residents of the 9 to 10ft telegraph poles (Image: Rebecca Cameron)
Billinge and Seneley Green, Cllr Sue Murphy, who was present at last night's meeting, added: "Residents are rightly upset and concerned because there has been a lack of consultation and communication about the plans.

"Residents want to understand why the upgrades cannot be done using the existing upgrades underground, and I will make sure I raise these concerns with BRSK at a planned meeting.

"As a council, we will do all we can to support the concerned residents, but we also have to be realistic as the previous government committed to a policy where these developments can bypass planning permission."

BRSK statement

BRSK say that telegraph poles are the most effective and environmentally friendly way to upgrade broadband (Image: Newsquest)
In response to the Billinge plans, a spokesperson for BRSK, said: "We will always endeavour to use as much existing infrastructure as possible, [as] this benefits our roll out in making it more efficient and faster to connect customers.

"However, sometimes the existing infrastructure is insufficient for us to serve some premises, and on these occasions, we need to upgrade the infrastructure to provide services to all residents.

"Recently, we conducted a thorough survey in Billinge and found that the existing infrastructure is not usable.

"The area is currently served by buried cables and as such, no infrastructure exists that can be used. The survey of the area has concluded in the last week and we are going to need to utilise poles in some areas to ensure everyone is connected.

"We are looking at the plans, and will work with the council and residents as much as possible on the placements of these.

"Due to the survey only recently completing, it is still too early at this stage to say how many poles we will need to stand definitively, as this number can change as we roll out our network, in some areas we have needed to use less poles than initially planned.

"The poles are pre-treated in a creosote substance in line with industry standards, and are identical in every way to the poles utilised by BT Openreach in their deployment, and come from the same supplier.

"It is also important to mention that the planting of poles is widely used within the industry, and generally accepted as the most effective and most environmentally-friendly option to upgrade infrastructure.

"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 and we will do our best to work together with residents for the best possible placement of infrastructure, as much as is possible to do so.

"As we roll out our network, communication is our priority. We aim to work collaboratively with local authorities and residents as much as possible.

"We introduced ourselves to all local Councillors including the Leader of the Council on 28th December 2023 to provide more details about brsk and the intended roll out, our deployment methods, and to welcome the opportunity for further discussions.

"We then contacted local Councillors again on 28th June 2024 with a further update on our deployment including telegraph poles.

"To further honour our commitment to a transparent roll out, we will be meeting with local Councillors at the start of August to discuss further plans.

"Over 1,500 homes in Billinge have been visited by our Community Liaison Team, who went door to door informing the community of our work to bring better broadband to St Helens in March, April and in June this year.

"In addition to the leaflets they left behind to those they spoke with, letters and further communication will be sent out shortly, giving residents more information about BRSK.

"With almost 600,000 homes able to connect to our network across the Midlands and North West, we’re proud to be making St Helens one of the best digitally connected areas in the country ahead of the national deadline, and creating the opportunity for 35,000 homes and businesses to take up affordable world class broadband now, while many parts of the country wait their turn."