BT battles with Brighton's broadband Nimbys

 

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By Nicole Kobie

Posted on 5 Jul 2010 at 16:28

BT's installation of fibre cabinets has once again provoked the ire of residents, this time in Brighton and Hove.

The 1.8m green cabinets are being installed as part of the work to connect Brighton and Hove to BT's super-fast broadband network.

The concerned citizens, from a variety of local conservation groups, wrote in an open letter: “We are worried both about the lack of more general consultation and the impact that these monster cabinets could have, both within and outside conservation areas, if they are simply installed wherever Openreach finds most convenient.”

BT was given planning permission for the installed cabinets, but needs approval from the council for the rest. "We do fully appreciate the concerns of the conservation and amenities committees regarding the siting of our super-fast broadband cabinets in certain parts of the city," a BT spokesman said.

"The installation of this new equipment, necessary to deliver faster speeds over a fibre network, is essential if residents and businesses in Brighton are to reap the benefits of this new technology," he added. "But we are committed to working with local authorities to minimise the visual impact of the new street cabinets, and have done this successfully in other conservation areas."

BT faced similar opposition in Muswell Hill, London, where local residents complained the cabinets blocked pedestrians from using the pavement.