Responding to Culture Secretary Maria Miller’s announcement on relaxing planning protections for broadband roll-out, Cllr Mike Jones, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Environment and Housing Board, said: ‘You cannot take away the rights of people to have a say on six-foot high humming junction boxes outside their windows and gardens or poles and wires festooning their streets.’
Cllr Jones continued: ‘Decisions on where to place broadband infrastructure must consider the impact on local environments rather than simply suit the convenience of companies and their engineers. Rushed and unnecessary road works to lay cables also risk costing council tax payers a fortune in repairs and, even when done properly, shorten the life of the roads.’
‘The real barriers to broadband roll-out are Government failing to get EU clearance to spend the £530 million earmarked funding and providers trying to dictate the terms of infrastructure development without regard to local communities and conservation areas. Government needs to encourage providers to work together to make better use of existing ducts and poles, rather than duplicating infrastructure.’
‘Councils are as committed as Government to improving internet services for residents and business to help drive forward growth in their areas. However, the answer isn’t riding roughshod over planning protections and it’s vital Government doesn’t lose sight of the bigger picture in a race for short-term gain.’
‘Residents expect councils to protect their homes and make neighbourhoods nice places to live, and planning regulations exist to do just that. A responsible contractor should want to secure community support and at the very least talk to the council about how its work can tie into the local plan. The drive to meet broadband targets shouldn’t force poorly thought out knee-jerk measures that spoil local environments and needlessly damage roads.’
For background and detail see: LINK
Local Government News: LINK
For the Parliamentary Committee scrutiny of these proposals see: LINK
