Pole-axed! Vandals chop down two telegraph poles carrying broadband cables under the cover of darkness – amid locals’ fury at soaring numbers of wooden structures ‘littering’ streets

• Locals have complained about new broadband telegraph poles in East Hull
• They claim the new poles are not in keeping with the conservation area 

A broadband company has condemned the criminal damage of two of its poles which were destroyed in Hull. 

Firefighters were called to Waveney Road, on Longhill estate, east Hull, on Friday, amid reports that two telegraph poles were on fire. On Saturday, a short stump and a pile of sawdust was all that remained of one pole, opposite Eastmount and Longhill Playing Fields.

Video footage later emerged online that appeared to show a group of people using a chainsaw to cut down a pole under the cover of darkness. The firm, MS3 said police were investigating and warned that damaging the heavy poles could put lives at risk.

Companies including MS3 are currently installing new broadband infrastructure, including poles, in communities across Hull and parts of the East Riding. The companies argue that the work is necessary to break KCOM’s long-standing dominance in the local market and offer more choice – and by extension, cheaper prices – to customers.

Vigilantes have chopped down two newly erected telegraph poles carrying broadband cables into an east Hull housing estate

Locals in Hedon complained the telegraph poles were unsightly and claimed the broadband company should have shared infrastructure with a rival firm

However, the installation of poles in particular has sparked controversy. Earlier this month, East Riding Council suspended the work in Hedon following weeks of angry protests by residents of the town.

A spokesperson for the broadband company said: ‘Two of MS3’s newly installed telegraph poles were subject to criminal damage this weekend, with a video of the illegal activity posted online. Whilst the police investigation is under way, we cannot comment on the act itself however we are extremely disappointed with the actions of members of local protest groups condoning this behaviour online.

‘Telegraph poles weigh hundreds of kilograms and there is very real danger of loss of life from deliberately damaging them. MS3’s number one priority is the health and safety of our workers and members of the public.’

Contractors installing MS3’s infrastructure were facing ‘day-to-day harassment’, the spokesperson said. ‘We hope to see all parties involved condemning these actions and reflecting on the narrative used up to this point. We believe the day-to-day harassment our contractors face when lawfully installing new equipment, as well as the misinformation posted online, has ultimately led to a small group of individuals deciding to commit a serious offence that may have endangered lives.’

The poles appear to have been attacked with a chainsaw during a late night vigilante action

Contractors erecting the poles faced hostility from some locals as they continued their work

Under ‘permitted development’ rules, companies can legally install broadband infrastructure without needing to seek full planning permission. It follows a change in the law under the Telecommunications Act in 2021.

However, residents have complained that the new infrastructure is unnecessary. Earlier this year, Gill Locking, who lives in West Ella, explained how a roughly 40ft-high pole had been installed next to her front garden, within a conservation area. ‘It’s duplicating infrastructure which is already there,’ she said. ‘Competition on the provision of broadband is welcome, a proliferation of poles is not, it’s commercial vandalism.’

Juley Dervy is among those who are opposed to the installation of the poles

Carole Hunter is another worker who opposed to the installation work

The controversy has led the Hull MP Diana Johnson (Labour) to call for a change in the law to prevent poles being installed without the permission of local residents. Meanwhile, her fellow MP Graham Stuart (Conservative, Beverley and Holderness) has asked the Government to force telecoms companies to share infrastructure if they cannot agree deals among themselves.

KCOM has insisted that the company is not stopping any other firm from using their infrastructure. Speaking last month in the wake of the Hedon protests, a spokesperson said: ‘If MS3, or any other provider, want to apply for access to our network in Hedon we’d be happy to work with them and, indeed, we’re legally required to provide access to our infrastructure and process access requests quickly and efficiently.’

‘As we have said on numerous occasions, if other providers don’t agree with the prices we quote to access our network, then they are welcome to disagree and raise a dispute with Ofcom. To date, no other provider has done this.’

One resident attempted to put the row in perspective. He said: ‘Well if KCOM have a monopoly then people are moaning about that, and if other businesses move in they moan about that too. Seems to me, you can’t have it both ways. Seems to me, people just want to moan, moan, moan.’

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