Openreach (BT Group) are planning to install 11 telegraph poles in Hayden Park, Biddulph affecting the following streets:

• Dorset Drive
• Thatchers Grove
• Hunters Close
• Mason Drive
• Crofter Close

This will mean that all telephone and fibre internet services would be supplied by overhead cabling with cables/wires spanning overhead between poles and to properties.  This will have a severe affect on the visual amenity of the area and would be a backwards step for our area which has maintained its appearance since the 1970s.

Openreach are building their network as cheaply as possible and without due consideration of the people that live in the area.  Their own policies and commitments with ISPA regarding poles siting and best practices state that they should carry out enhanced consultation within the statutory 28 day notice period, which has not taken place.

Openreach have not responded to objections so far and will continue to install poles if residents do not fight and take further action. An opinion is that they will ignore these commitments as has happened in other areas of Biddulph. 

This petition is to demand that  Openreach review this build program, repair the existing ducted network and extend duct where necessary to build a fully underground network. Other areas such as Leek and Congleton had networks built underground in the same circumstances as our area - there is no excuse to cut corners for our area.

A letter has also been received from local MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley offering her support. After completing this petition we recommend that you also e-mail her at karen.bradley.mp@parliament.uk

You can also contact Openreach's complaints team or email the CEOs directly;

CEO of Openreach - Clive.selley@openrech.co.uk 

Chief engineer of Openreach - andrew.whale@openreach.co.uk 

CEO of BT Group - allison.kirkby@bt.com 

This petition will remain open for 2 weeks and the results will be mailed directly to the CEO of Openreach, the BT Group CEO and MP Karen Bradley.