House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Telegraph Poles: Planning Permission

17 October 2024 · 3 other contributors

Opened by Laurence Turner Lab Birmingham Northfield

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Laurence Turner raised concerns about telegraph poles: planning permission in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

Laurence Turner raised concerns about the excessive deployment of telegraph poles without resident consultation in Birmingham Northfield.
Chris Bryant acknowledged the issues and noted that some companies behave irresponsibly, likening them to 'cowboys'.
The Minister expressed a preference for using ducts over poles when feasible, citing cost benefits and logistical challenges.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Laurence Turner Lab Birmingham Northfield

Laurence Turner, MP for Birmingham Northfield, raised concerns about the excessive deployment of telegraph poles without adequate consultation with residents. Despite welcoming the roll-out of fast broadband and recognising its necessity in urban areas, he highlighted that current legislative frameworks lack a requirement to consult residents, leading to unwanted and obtrusive installations. He cited official statistics indicating near universal coverage in his constituency but argued that this was not reflective of on-the-ground issues faced by constituents who feel their concerns are being ignored.

Other contributors (3)

Preet Kaur Gill Lab Birmingham Edgbaston

Rose to contribute briefly, though details were cut off.
Alex Ballinger

Rose to interject on the format of interventions.
Caroline Nokes

Ordered Ms Gill to sit and reminded MPs that interventions should be short, spontaneous, not read out in full.

Government Response

Chris Bryant

Chris Bryant congratulated Laurence Turner on his election and acknowledged the concerns raised about the deployment of telegraph poles in urban areas. He emphasised that while most companies operate responsibly, a few behave like 'cowboys' and need to be brought into line. The Minister outlined his preference for ducts over poles wherever possible, recognising the cost benefits but also the necessity at times due to logistical challenges. He committed to enhancing shared infrastructure through a new code of conduct which would aim to prevent unnecessary overbuild and ensure operators adhere to best practices. Chris Bryant stated that this code would be published by early next year and if voluntary compliance fails, legislative changes will follow. The Minister highlighted Ofcom’s role in investigating non-compliant operators like Brsk, expressing his willingness to engage with them directly to understand their operations better.