Families blow fuse at broadband boxes that block out light
RESIDENTS are fighting for the removal of three giant broadband cable cabinets installed so close to their homes they block out the light.
Donald Ferguson, 88, his wife Rosemary, 82, and their neighbour Betty McGrath, 83, were outraged to find themselves looking out at the huge grey boxes installed in January.
The trio have since been battling with Virgin Media for nine months to get rid of them.
Rosemary said that they were never told that the boxes would be placed directly outside their homes in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, adding that “we now have no outlook at all”.
Exasperated
She said: “We were never advised they were going to be put here but apparently that’s because they don’t need planning permission to put them up. We have been fighting this since January and have just hit a brick wall the whole way.” Exasperated with Virgin Media, the pensioners contacted Barrhead councillor Danny Devlin for help. He is demanding the boxes be removed and relocated to a more suitable place. He said: “Virgin Media are a law unto themselves. They would usually speak to the council about the installation of these boxes. However, in this case, they didn’t. “The people living there have no outlook whatsoever – it’s completely blocked the view from their window. “The boxes should be removed and Virgin should be made to go through the planning process with the council. “They have just refused to speak to anyone about the issue. As far as they are concerned it’s a done deal. As a gesture of common sense, I would expect Virgin to give these pensioners back the view they had before.”
Virgin said the installation is part of their broadband expansion in Barrhead. A spokeswoman said: “The council was notified prior to Virgin Media installing the cabinets and the correct procedures were followed.”