Telegraph poles/ Freedom Fibre update 10th November 2022
Parish Council Statement – Freedom Fibre Broadband
The Parish Council (PC) became aware earlier in the year that Comberbach is included in the plans for Freedom Fibre (FF) to deliver high speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) to the village. This information was shared on the website on 23 July and in the September Comberbach Village News.
It was assumed that the enhanced fibre service would be delivered within the village via the existing underground network of ducts/channels. It is now apparent that this is not the case with the notices posted around the village earlier this week alerting the PC, and the wider community, as to the intentions of FF to deliver their service via telegraph poles and overhead cables. Unsurprisingly, this has generated many questions and / or concerns amongst the PC members and wider village community since.
The PC contacted FF on Tuesday to request they send representatives to attend a public meeting with the Comberbach residents next week to answer their questions and / or concerns. Whilst FF have declined to attend a public meeting they have agreed to meet with representatives from the PC next Thursday 17th November.
A list of key points to be discussed is being drawn up based on feedback from those who have so far approached their PC representatives. The core areas we propose to cover with FF are as follows:
- Why the existing ducts / channels available in most areas of the village are not being used.
- Obtain a map of all proposed pole sites, and for each, seek evidence of the due diligence undertaken to establish telegraph poles and overhead wires as being the only viable option.
- Where a decision on viability is based on financial cost, seek evidence that any government funding criteria imposed to determine financial viability options have been complied with.
- Establish what the alternative rights / options are to obtain FTTP via underground solutions with other providers if the consensus amongst the residents in Comberbach is that they do not want FF to proceed with their installation of telegraph poles / lines.
If residents have any further questions they would like to be considered they should get in touch with their representative on the council (list in published in the Village News and available on the Parish Council website) or send an email to the Parish Clerk (clerk@comberbach-pc.gov.uk).
Residents should be assured the PC remains committed to working with the community to establish what options are available and, in the interim have requested in our correspondence with FF that they do not progress with any works until we have had our meeting with them and then had the chance to consult with our residents as to how we wish to proceed. Additionally, the PC are making CWAC of the current situation.
Once the meeting has been held with FF the PC will provide a summary of the answers received to our questions and propose how we secure the village opinion as to the next steps.
If any members of the community have relevant expertise, knowledge or experience in dealing with matters such as those at hand (e.g. permitted rights to erect the poles, telecommunications) and would be willing to offer their support to the PC please contact the Parish Clerk.
Comberbach Parish Council
10th November 2022
