Overhead Telecommunications Cables Consultation

Extract from letter from POS to Dept for Business, Innovation and Skills:

The Planning Officers Society represents the most senior professionals and managers of planning functions in the English local authorities. We set out to:

• Act as an advocate and promoter of Local Government planning;
• Assist and advise the Government and the Local Government Association on planning matters and related issues;
• Act as a centre of excellence, undertake research and promote best practice in planning matters;
• Promote all aspects of the built and green environment by working closely with other organisations and professions.

The Society's aim is to ensure that planning makes a major contribution to achieving sustainable developments, from national to local level, in ways which are fair and equitable and achieve the social, economic and environmental aspirations of all sectors of the community.

This response on behalf of the Planning Officer's Society (POS) relates to Overhead Telecommunications Cables consultation.

Q1 - what impact would the presence of more telegraph poles have on the visual amenity of your area and the surrounding landscape?

A - On the assumption that we are dealing with rural areas where there are few existing structures to attach and support overhead cables it must be assumed that new poles and cables will have a detrimental effect on the landscape of the locality. In many rural conservation areas public money has been invested in undergrounding cables to reduce street clutter and even, in cases where overhead cables cross public spaces (such as village greens), to address safety issues. Consequently, great care needs to be taken in assessing detailed routes of any new overhead cables in order not to lose the benefit of undergrounding previous installations.

Q2 - to what extent do you believe that the benefits NGA would bring (as described in the Impact Assessment) outweigh this impact and is this trade-off worth having?

A - this will vary on a case-by-case basis. Where one cable serves only one premises then the benefit would be limited accordingly. Where multiple properties and businesses can be served from one main installation then the balance of advantage/disadvantage will change. Is overhead cabling the only technology available to facilitate NGA? Experiments are under way in some areas with telecommunications installations (i.e. bespoke telecoms aerials/base stations) which could be attached to existing tall buildings (such as churches - suitably designed for minimum impact - or tall commercial or agricultural buildings, or maybe parish/village halls) to provide improved broadband access, including over the "final mile" reducing the need for either overhead or underground cabling.  "Mixing and matching" technologies would allow for a wider range of options to be adapted to local circumstances.

To see the response in full click here