UK pensioners left fuming after BT erects 30ft broadband mast outside their bungalows

Pensioners in a quiet cul-de-sac are fuming at "mean" BT for erecting a 30ft broadband mast outside their bungalows – despite just ONE resident owning a computer.Show more

Furious locals are demanding the “Jack and the Beanstalk” pole is removed, saying it has ruined the appearance of their neighbourhood.

The giant mast was installed by telecoms giant BT on January 27 as they worked on upgrading internet speeds in the area.

But since it appeared on Elms Road, in Hereford, residents were left baffled because just one person in the 11-property close owns a computer.

Retired civil servant Brenda Cummings, 76, who moved to the street with her husband Vivian, 92, a decade ago, said: “It’s a monstrosity, everyone who see’s it thinks so.

“There are only 11 bungalows in the close here. We are all over 70, and only one of us has a computer.

“Yet we have this absolute Jack and the Beanstalk pole. It’s right in front of a couple’s window. It’s in their line of sight, it’s very mean.

“Who took the cow to market and sold it for a handful of beans?

“It’s enormous, the other masts around here are smaller.

“It’s only a small cul-de-sac, it was lovely.

“It is very, very high. It could’ve gone 30 yards further and not looked very odd.

“We have no objection to the pole, we just wish it was in a less obvious position, that was less prominent.

“They dug this 8ft hole and they left all this muck all over the road.

“We had to go and sweep up all the mud that they left, it was left very muddy.

“I have no plans to get broadband, I can’t afford to use it.”

Brenda added that while the broadband mast towers over their homes, what residents really need is better street lighting.

She added: “We only have one lamppost which doesn’t give enough light. You can’t see the kerbs at night, it’s terrible.

“You have to use a torch at night it’s that dark.”

“We asked the council to build another lamppost but they haven’t responded.

“Instead we get this huge telegraph pole which only one person actually benefits from.”

Pensioner Jane Cadbury, 66, who moved to the cul-de-sac six months ago, is the only resident who owns a computer which she uses to keep in touch with her family.

The divorced mum-of-two said: “I’m probably the youngest one here and I can’t live without my computer and emails.

“The pole is very ugly and I have no idea why they put it up there.

"It looks awful. Especially when the wind is strong like this, I can’t imagine the signal will be very strong.

“It could be put nearer the roadside. It’s really intrusive. It’s in the middle of the close. The post looks nearly twice the size of the lamp post that we have.

“I get my internet through my landline. I’m the one who moved in most recent and I had no problems getting internet before the pole was up.

"I hope we can get rid of the wretched pole."

Herefordshire Councillors have raised concerns about broadband masts popping up around the county “like The Day of the Triffids”.

Cllr Louis Stark, Lib-Dem for Ross-on-Wye, said: “Full fibre operators do not need to seek planning permission to set up telegraph poles, which Ross-on-Wye residents are very concerned about.”

Cllr John Stone, Conservative for Leominster, added: “Last July, lots of telegraph poles appeared in Leominster almost overnight – it was like Day of the Triffids. There was no consultation and we faced uproar from residents.”

Council leader David Hitchiner said the authority was powerless to stop the poles being erected near people's homes.

He said: “The Government is allowing hideous telegraph poles to be put up – a point I have made to the minister, who said it is more important to get the full fibre there.”

Residents have complained to BT Openreach, the company responsible for the pole, saying the pole should have been installed nearer to the tree line.

A spokesperson for BT Openreach said: “There are times when we simply cannot avoid erecting poles to provide services efficiently, safely and in a sound engineering manner.

“Our team letter-dropped the area in advance of the work, a pre-site notice was placed on a streetlight, and we also gave a 28-day notice for any objections to be received. None were.”