A borough MP has called for action after concerns from residents about the installation of telegraph poles across Bolton . Bolton West MP Phil Brickell has branded the masts, which have been put up around the borough by telecommunications companies, including IX Wireless , as “inappropriate eyesores”. (Image: Public) The installation of the masts have led to public protests and discontent among residents.
One mast, which was put up in front of The Old Post Office on Bradshaw, which is a historic listed building in Bolton, was removed recently. And a resident protested a mast outside his home on Hardy Mill Road in Harwood by sitting on a chair outside his house to prevent it from being installed. Although the poles are classed as “permitted development” and therefore do not need planning permission before they can be installed, locals have voiced frustrations at not receiving a warning prior to installation.
Mr Brickell has taken to social media to share a letter he received from the Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant MP, which acknowledges the “strong feelings some communities up and down the country has on this issue” and reinforces the notion that “operators should share existing infrastructure where necessary". (Image: Social media/ Phil Brickell) Sir Chris' letter said: “I wrote to UK network operators and called them to share existing infrastructure as the default approach and to install underground wherever possible before deploy.