Nigel Adams MP meets with Escrick residents over Factco broadband

Escrick residents complained to the MP after Factco told them they were providing towers for the rollout of 1000Mbps Gigabit broadband, which will replace the existing 60Mbps Superfast broadband.

Factco told residents on Wenlock Drive that this was due to the difficulty and higher cost of underground wiring. Local residents objected and again called for underground wiring, saying the design would be reviewed.

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But, villagers added, Factco suddenly told them that poles would be put up even though new cables were being laid underground in other nearby streets.

About 30 local residents met their MP, Nigel Adams, and told them that the pylons and overhead wires would criss-cross their streets and gardens, with some wires running through trees.

One told the MP: “Poles are a way of connecting telephone lines in the 19th century and in the 21st century it is unacceptable that they are being forced on us in this way. Cables and poles are unsightly and unnecessary.”

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Mr Adams said after the meeting: “The community feels a great deal of disappointment because they objected to the poles and the poles were forced on them anyway.” After my visit, I can understand why homeowners don’t want poles and catenary, especially when in adjacent streets new cables are laid underground.”

Factco told the press that the portion of the village where the poles were used would require extensive excavation and restoration work. In addition, underground cabling was not possible at Wenlock Drive due to poor roads and such work would damage the tree roots already overhanging the road.

Burying the cables would also make them more difficult to maintain, difficult to access, and would also require a new building permit. Therefore, the installation of 11 masts was the “most realistic solution”.

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The spokesman continued: “Without the installation of nine of those 11 masts at Northlands Close, Southlands Close and Wenlock Drive, full fiber access would not be available for 90 residents of Carr Lane, Escrick Court, Northlands Close, Skipworth Road, Southland.” Proximity to Wenlock Drive and Woodlands.

“Research into the surrounding streets revealed that they have more and better underground infrastructure, which is why these areas of the network could be built underground.”

The spokesman added: “FACTCO is a private company working to bring full fiber optic capacity to rural communities. Our work at Escrick is a self funded investment and approved by North Yorkshire Council. We have been in contact with local residents, local councillors, the Parish Council and MP the Rt Hon Nigel Adams regarding this.”