So what is a ‘wayleave’ agreement?

RAW DEAL asked Openreach to outline what has to be done in cases where access to a “telegraph pole” is difficult.

A spokeswoman told us: “In general, we need a wayleave agreement – consent in writing – to carry out work on privately-owned land.

“A wayleave is a written legal agreement between Openreach and a land or property owner that grants us access to install, maintain or repair our network equipment.

“Way leaves are not always in place to start with if, for instance, a pole has been in its position for a time before a property or housing development was built.

“If a wayleave is in place, we can theoretically pursue legal action if we are being refused access. However, this is always a last resort.

“We try our best to come to some kind of compromise with the owner or to make alternative arrangements to overcome access or wayleave issues.”