BT installing fibre optic cables - wanting to dig up my field.

[Abacus]

Any update yet? I have no idea if I can do anything but I work for BT - let me know and I will definitely take it forward if they cause you problems.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Any update yet? I have no idea if I can do anything but I work for BT - let me know and I will definitely take it forward if they cause you problems.

You are lovely!!
They are supposed to start tomorrow so we will see. I will padlock the gate from tomorrow. My neighbours are there all the time so will keep an eye out and let me know. OH seems to think that because there are so many different landowners in the area where they want to put the cable that they will just go down the road... we will see.

 

[Abacus]

Good luck! When Gigaclear installed in our village they just went along the roadside, so hopefully this will be the same.

 

[Cecile]

Oh yes they can if they deem it an emergency! Despite being home all day and next door being home all day the electricty people decided to replace the transformer on the pole in our field. Rather than knock on the door, they simply cut the chain. instead of cutting the chain at the link next to the paddock they cut it mid-way, meaning it only just reached with a lot of awkward fiddling to get the padlock at the right angle to hook into it to lock it. (16 years later we've finally bought a new chain, so much easier!). I spoke to the workmen and they said they had the right to do this, and told me to see about compensation. I wrote and enquired about compensation to replace the chain (it was mega thick!) but not even a reply.

Workmen tell you anything just to shut you up, no-one has the right to cause criminal damage to access your property, well maybe if it was a drugs bust. You wrote to enquire about compensation and were ignored, not in my world would they do that, if they bring soil to back fill I want to know exactly where it comes from for tracability , if they damage a rail it is replaced, enquiring will certainly be ignored, action will be acted on immediately and even in an emergency they can contact the owner or in your case knock on your door or ring the bell

 

[AandK]

You are lovely!!
They are supposed to start tomorrow so we will see. I will padlock the gate from tomorrow. My neighbours are there all the time so will keep an eye out and let me know. OH seems to think that because there are so many different landowners in the area where they want to put the cable that they will just go down the road... we will see.

Did BT say if they needed access to your field when you spoke to them?

 

[AandK]

Oh yes they can if they deem it an emergency! Despite being home all day and next door being home all day the electricty people decided to replace the transformer on the pole in our field. Rather than knock on the door, they simply cut the chain. instead of cutting the chain at the link next to the paddock they cut it mid-way, meaning it only just reached with a lot of awkward fiddling to get the padlock at the right angle to hook into it to lock it. (16 years later we've finally bought a new chain, so much easier!). I spoke to the workmen and they said they had the right to do this, and told me to see about compensation. I wrote and enquired about compensation to replace the chain (it was mega thick!) but not even a reply.

I expect things have changed a bit in the last 16yrs! I also think that accessing something that is already in place is a bit different to digging trenches to lay new cable. That said it is not acceptable to just cut a chain to gain access, I would not have let that go.

 

[MagicMelon]

I would absolutely padlock the gate. I wouldnt let them dig up my field personally (and Im like you and only own a small acreage so its all very valuable), Id tell them to take the cables along the fence lines rather than right through your field. If BT (who I loath for communication - horrific company!) were ever found in my field Id go nuts. They're hell in general to get any information from and that information changes dramatically depending on who you speak to. I recently had 8 months of hell with them, they'd overcharged us for something yet decided we were in the wrong and owed them money so sent bayliff letters (to my business!) then eventually agreed that that wasnt correct, then agreed to pay us back the £600 they'd stolen from us, but then the cheque never came. Took months to eventually get it! So I doubt you'll get an answer as to if they want to go on your land, or you will but that answer will likely be wrong. Then they'll continue to give you differing information. Just dont let them on your land, job done. I wouldn't.

 

[Dubsie]

I expect things have changed a bit in the last 16yrs! I also think that accessing something that is already in place is a bit different to digging trenches to lay new cable. That said it is not acceptable to just cut a chain to gain access, I would not have let that go.

I got fed up after 4 letters with no reply not even an acknowledgement. I phoned and was told somebody would call me back, they didn't. Frankly for £15-20 worth of chain I was spending too much time on it. Good thing was they relocated the transformer after that to a new pole on the roadside.

 

[LaurenBay]

Any update yet? I have no idea if I can do anything but I work for BT - let me know and I will definitely take it forward if they cause you problems.

Another BT employee here!

Usually in cases like this, a survey would happen first and then you would be contacted to ask permission. If that hasn't happened then I would call the main BT number and ask for a complaint to be raised, chain the gates until then. As frustrating as it is, work does need to be carried out, but it is not OK that they have not notified you of this and I would be kicking up a fuss.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Another BT employee here!

Usually in cases like this, a survey would happen first and then you would be contacted to ask permission. If that hasn't happened then I would call the main BT number and ask for a complaint to be raised, chain the gates until then. As frustrating as it is, work does need to be carried out, but it is not OK that they have not notified you of this and I would be kicking up a fuss.

They have started this morning and not a word from them. I have chained both ends of the bottom gate and the top 2 gates are chained together and all padlocked. My horse is out in the field as well so they had better not have gone in there!! Luckily for me, he won't be caught by just anyone and def. not a man. A man won't get anywhere near him in the field so that could be fun. My neighbour did let me know that they were unloading a digger. That is all I've heard.

Will find out more when I get home from work. And then perhaps I can talk to them. The problem is that they "lost" the previous cables apparently so will need to put a new trench etc in which will make considerably more mess and its already very wet in the fields so they will be trashed with diggers etc driving up and down them.

 

[Birker2020]

I put a reply to someones post here yesterday about similar but just to warn you that the Grass Sickness Foundation say that potential management practice which 'may' give rise to Grass sickness is soil disturbance.See link: http://www.grasssickness.org.uk/adv...-which-may-reduce-the-risk-of-grass-sickness/

Its a definite risk factor.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Well I am delighted to say that all the worry was for nothing. I checked with BT that there was no wayleave and there wasn't. I got home yesterday to find the workmen digging up the road with no intention of going through the field as they didn't have permission. I high fived the workman I spoke to. I think he thought I was mad. I am so relieved as it is absolutely peeing down today and the field would have been trashed for the winter.

 

[DappleDown]

Well I am delighted to say that all the worry was for nothing. I checked with BT that there was no wayleave and there wasn't. I got home yesterday to find the workmen digging up the road with no intention of going through the field as they didn't have permission. I high fived the workman I spoke to. I think he thought I was mad. I am so relieved as it is absolutely peeing down today and the field would have been trashed for the winter.

So glad to read this. That's good news.

And thanks so much for the update - so many forget.

Really glad that BT were on the ball re the permission. Credit where's it's due. Well done for listening BT.