A PACKED MEETING in Hedon last night confirmed residents’ intention to get MS3 poles removed from Hedon and Preston streets.
Probably to the annoyance of MS3 Networks, last night’s Public Meeting (Wed 29 Nov 2023) at Hedon Town Hall was overwhelmingly optimistic as the Going Underground campaign outlined plans to get the telegraph poles removed from local streets.
A letter from Sir John Whittingdale MP, the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, sent to Graham Stuart MP and shared with councillors and campaigners has highlighted the regulations, obligations and requirements that new alternative broadband networks (AltNets) should be following. Sir John is ultimately responsible for the rollout of AltNets. The letter is being reviewed by councillors and officers at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and campaigners are hopeful that MS3 will be found to be in breach of these by their failure to seek to share infrastructure, to go underground and to minimise the visual and physical impact of telegraph poles on the local environment. If MS3 is found to be in breach, then campaigners have made it absolutely clear that the only acceptable solution to them, is the removal of the offending poles planted in the area.
However, until the legislative framework under which MS3 is operating is clarified, and action against MS3 is determined, Going Underground will be stepping up its campaign of opposition to the pole planting companies.
A separate countywide campaign group is being formed with two roles;
- to assist those areas targetted by MS3 and other pole-planting companies to get organised. Where areas request it, and have held community meetings to oppose unnecessary telegraph poles, or otherwise have expressed a community opinion via local councils or representative bodies that telegraph poles are not welcome, then the countywide group will help communities prepare for the pole-planters arrival.
- to organise countywide activities. The first of these is a lobby of East Riding Council (ERYC) on Wednesday, January 10 at 1pm at County Hall, Beverley. Councillors on the East Riding have unanimously called for a change in the law to bring telegraph pole installations back under the control of local planning authorities, the lobby will show support for councillors, particularly those councillors that seek ERYC to use the powers available to curtail the actions of pole-planters that seek to bring disruption and distress to communities.
An informal network of campaign groups across the country already exists. But steps are being taken to pull these together into a formal national campaign group that will aim to support local groups opposed to telegraph pole deployment, with advice, support and resources and also engage at a national level to bring about policy changes.
Local campaigning:
Going Underground in Hedon and Preston has strengthened its local organisation and the campaign is now something that people can actually join. Those signed up will receive regular updates and ‘calls to action’ from the campaign. Where possible and practicable, the defence of local streets and communities will continue. Where residents get organised to keep the pole lorries out and request help, Going Underground will seek to offer support.
Complaints to MS3 should continue. Be courteous and polite. But please make your case against local poles placement and lack of satisfaction. Regularly.
- Report feedback / a complaint about your network build for overground work: 01482 259109
- General: 01482 736133
- General: info@ms-3.co.uk
- Pole location complaints: community-engagement@ms-3.co.uk
Petition: We still have a lot to do to get the petition shared and signed. Make sure you let friends and relatives know that they can sign this wherever they live. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/647970
Boycott: A third of households in Hedon have pledged to boycott MS3 (and its successor companies) and the internet service providers that seek to use poles for at least ten years see: tinyurl.com/boycott23-33. A short-term goal is to get the pledge rate up to comprise 50% of households in both Hedon and Preston. One of the partners previously listed on MS3’s website has disassociated itself from the AltNet because of its activities in Hedon. We hope to convince the remaining boycotted companies to do likewise.
Award and Reputation: MS3 recently received an award for its ‘outstanding delivery’ from a network of similar organisations to itself (AltNets) called the INCA Awards. We are pleased to award the company our own STINKER Award.
MS3 Networks has a damaged reputation locally because of its lack of community engagement and the poor operating practices of its contractors. In response to a Freedom of Information request asking for information about the number of fines levied against MS3 for breaches of permit conditions, ERYC replied:
“Providing the requested information may be damaging to the relationship between the Council and MS3.
“Providing the information may be damaging to MS3s reputation
Darren Stevens Executive Director of Corporate Resources at ERYC.
therefore having an adverse impact on their ability to trade.”
That is tough! Reported at last night’s meeting was the information from ERYC that MS3 so far have been fined for 202 breaches of permits since the beginning of October! That’s £100 each fine so £2,020 worth of poor practice fines.
We are having lots of fun at MS3’s expense – and there is more to come. However, a serious message to company CEO Guy Miller is this:
“Mr Miller, you will rue the day that you and your company decided that Hedon and Preston would get telegraph poles against the wishes of local communities. That decision will come back to haunt you! The name of our meeting was The Polegate Scandal – and, as in Watergate, we want heads to roll for that decision!”
Going Underground (Hedon and Preston).
The Going Underground campaign continues.
Going Underground:
Facebook Group:
STOP THE TELEGRAPH POLE INSTALLATIONS IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS & ELSEWHERE
https://www.facebook.com/groups/847165576924858
Contact Emails for the group:
General: hedonpoles@yahoo.com
Chair: councillor.gallant@eastriding.gov.uk
Fundraising Page:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Going-Underground