Residents of Larchfield Close, Walnut Walk, Lavender Court and Mulberry Court (part of the Stonebridge Estate) have called for an internet provider to backtrack from plans that would see overhead wires and telegraph poles installed in the area that they say would negatively affect the character of the neighbourhoods.
This comes after the company, Truespeed Communications, had to backtrack from their plans to install telegraph poles to wire broadband in the Ashtree Road and Laburnum Close (also part of Stonebridge) area after residents started a letter writing campaign urging against the “unsightly” poles and overhead wires. The majority of the Stonebridge Estate was built with its utilities underground.
Truespeed announced that they would be stepping back from their plans for the Ashtree Road area but have now installed telegraph poles in the Larchfield Close, Walnut Walk, Lavender Court and Mulberry Court without first consulting the residents.
Following the success of the previous letter writing campaign, residents of Larchfield Close are urging Truespeed to listen to local opinion and put an end to their plans for the estate.
One of the residents Laura Massa said, “The telegraph poles that have been installed are very close to a number of houses, compromising the view from some of them and, once the overhead cables are also installed, a spiderweb of cables, connecting the poles to individual properties, most likely crossing our gardens too, will change the character of the area, making it less aesthetically attractive and potentially also negatively affecting the value of our properties. All of this was done with no consultation with the local residents or the council.
“We hope that we can get Truespeed to once again reverse their decision; however I fear that this time around it will be more difficult than in Ashtree Road and Laburnum, as the poles have now already been erected.”
The residents contacted Truespeed to formally object to their plans and in response they were told by the company, “We’ve got all the necessary details needed and have implemented what we can on our side to get your objection addressed by our building team. Any final decisions made will be actioned.”
Laura added, “My husband and I connected with the residents from Ashtree Road and Laburnum Close on Facebook, and they gave us advice as well as a letter to give to our neighbours, one to send to Truespeed and a window poster to object to Truespeed’s plans. We printed and delivered around 80 of these information packs, along with a stamped and addressed envelope, to encourage as many of our neighbours as possible to express their objection.”
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