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Tree blocks superfast broadband for Easthampstead

By Julie Spencer
August 14, 2012

Plans for a telecoms cabinet to bring superfast broadband to people living in Easthampstead were refused in case it damaged a hornbeam tree.

Planners at Bracknell Forest Council refused the application from BT OpenReach on advice from the council’s tree officer so the hornbeam’s roots would not be damaged.

The application from the Harlequin Group planning consultancy, acting on behalf of BT OpenReach, proposed siting the green DSLAM cabinet at the Rectory Lane junction with Saffron Road to increase broadband speeds for around 200 homes in the immediate area.

Telecommunications equipment does not require planning permission unless it is within a conservation area or affects road visibility, and cabinets have already been installed in other parts of the town.

In their report, planning officers say the cabinet would not be visually prominent or out of keeping with the street which is part of the Easthampstead Conservation Area.

However, the borough’s tree officer reported that the hornbeam, although not covered by a preservation order, could be damaged by digging during the installation and the application was refused on July 12.

Jo Ritter, planning consultant with the Harlequin Group working on behalf of BT OpenReach, said they planned to resubmit the application with details of how the ducting between the new cabinet and the existing junction would be re-routed to avoid the hornbeam.

Installing a DSLAM cabinet which is connected to an existing junction box means Superfast Broadband can be supplied to properties without digging a trench and ducting cable to each house.

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Most recent user comments 5 of 5

Timothy - dench!

Winstanley, Bracknell
14/08/2012 at 17:36

To be honest I'm more concerned of the consequences of superfast internet crashing headlong into Britain’s superslow brains. It will simply allow morons to be much faster at being dense.

Timothy Jefferies
14/08/2012 at 17:14

Amazing these Tree Officers - planning decisions affected by trees even though no TPO's in force. A council that seems bent on protecting trees (quite right in many instances) at the expense of common sense and the matter in hand. If you want to protect all your trees no matter how dangerous and the negative impact they may have on the community then TPO the lot of 'em. At least we'll know we stand. Sounds like someone talking up their part to me.

As for Open Reach - in my experience they rarely make life easy for BT customers, so what's good for the goose.....

Winstanley, Bracknell
14/08/2012 at 16:21

Well said Tom. Doesn't sound like they're making it easy for Open Reach.

Hedge
14/08/2012 at 14:16

And how much has this stupid decision cost us?

Surely the sensible approach would have been simply to have a word with Harlequin and tell them what was needed to be submitted to make the application work .... refusing and resubmitting seems such a pointless thing to do - Sometimes i am astounded by the lack of common sense that the Council demonstrate.

We all know how super-keen the MP is on Broadband - i imagine he will want to comment on this!