Broadband boss not expecting more masts after deal
The boss of a broadband company says he is not expecting more telegraph poles to be installed in East Yorkshire.
Furqan Alamgir, chief executive of Connexin, spoke to the BBC after his business was acquired by CityFibre - one of the UK's largest network providers.
He said: "We don't expect there to be more poles. CityFibre have traditionally been trench diggers but it will come down to what their build plans are in the future."
Connexin has previously been urged by campaigners and MPs to share infrastructure with KCOM, which owns the majority of the area's underground network.
Mr Alamgir said talks with KCOM about sharing its network infrastructure were "ongoing" and the acquisition by CityFibre would not stop it from "progressing".
He said: "I'd hate to have poles outside my own house and it's silly how this has played out.
"We've paused our builds over the last few months. We've been working with KCOM and had a lot of support from local politicians.
"We'll be working to firm up agreements and we absolutely want to share infrastructure to build our network."
However, residents in Beverley, East Yorkshire, who saw poles installed near the homes, said they are "worried" by the CityFibre-Connexin deal.
Paul Brayford, from the Beverley and Molescroft Against Broadband Poles campaign group, said: "We're worried the streets where Connexin couldn't install poles will get them and the streets that did will now see fibre optic cables strung across.
"It's really frustrating, we don't want clutter and it could get worse."
Mr Alamgir said the agreement between Connexin and CityFibre would give households and businesses a wider range of options for internet services.
He said: "Hull and East Yorkshire should have the same offering as any other place in the UK and we've always wanted to bring more choice to the area.
"CityFibre have plans to reach 8m homes over the next couple of years and we'll be able to offer more services on the back of their investment.
"It should bring more competition, improve speeds and driver better products. It's a really exciting deal."
Under the deal, CityFibre will also take on the Connexin contract for Project Gigabit, a government scheme to roll out high-speed broadband to over 34,000 premises in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire
Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Call to speed up broadband infrastructure sharing
Broadband firm pauses pole installations
KCOM announces plan to end telegraph pole row
MPs meet broadband CEOs about telephone poles
Connexin
CityFibre
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Scam warning over government energy-saving grant
People hoping to get free energy-saving upgrades to their homes as part of a government scheme could be targeted by scammers, councillors have warned. Bradford Council has been awarded more than £7m as part of the Warm Homes fund to improve energy efficiency in some of the district's poorest insulated homes. However, concerns have been raised that householders could fall victim to rogue companies posing as official council contractors. Kamran Hussain, the council's spokesman for neighbourhoods and community safety, urged the council officers to "make sure safeguarding is put in place so that these companies are not scamming customers". "Over the years, we have found that many people have been stung through grants that have been implied as coming through the council," Hussain said at a meeting. He said work had in fact been carried out by private companies that were not part of government funding, leading to a "very large bill". Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of the council, said: "If a householder is asked to pay something, it is not a council scheme." She said the council should give out clear information about the programme to ensure residents are not misled. Council officers said the local authority would directly manage the scheme, selecting a single contractor to do the work through official processes. Bradford Council had applied for £27 million from the Government's new Warm Homes scheme but, despite receiving less than requested, it still secured the largest grant awarded to any single council. The authority hopes the project will mirror the success of a previous scheme, which upgraded 635 homes in Bradford with roof and underfloor insulation in 2022 and 2023, and was praised by government officials as a model project. Sarah Ferriby, the council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "The work will make these homes a lot more comfortable, reduce their fuel bills, and assist in reducing carbon emissions." The scheme will roll out over the next three years, with additional funding potentially available if Bradford exceeds its delivery targets. The funding comes from a £500m national pot for energy performance upgrades and better heating for people living in some of the worst quality privately owned and rented homes. The free work could include new insulation, solar panels or an air source heat pump if suitable. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Warning after trader pretends to be council worker Residents warned over 'real menace' rogue traders
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns in the hot seat
The Greater Lincolnshire mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns has been in the hot seat on BBC Radio Humberside. The Reform UK representative was elected last month after recieving 42% of the vote. Dame Andrea was taking questions from presenter Carla Greene, as well as those from listeners. Here are the four big takeaways from what she had to say – and you can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds. Matthew Burke from Grimsby wants to see more job opportunities in North East Lincolnshire. The 33-year-old said: "Look at what other cities are doing and just try and bring that to Grimsby." Bringing investment to the local area is a key role of the Greater Lincolnshire mayor. Dame Andrea announced she wanted to build a trade college in the area. She said: "We know right across the country we've got a shortage of plasterers, plumbers, builders. "Lecturers make more money in the private sector than actually teaching so we need to look at that skills gap." Dame Andrea was asked specifically what she would be doing to help people in Northern Lincolnshire. She responded: "I don't have this silo approach". The mayor was keen to stress that she would not be favouring one part of the region over another and said her role would help to bring a better balance. She said: "The good thing about a mayor is that you've got an overview of the whole county so you can ensure fair funding across the area. "You can't have one part missing out." Corrina Pett is a mental health support worker in North Lincolnshire. She said she wanted to see more unemployed people trained to help fill the gaps in the care sector. She said: "There shouldn't be a shortage with the amount of unemployed people here." Dame Andrea said she wanted to change attitudes towards the sector. "These are valuable roles and they're not to be looked down on. "It's about working with the councils, colleges and care providers to ensure school leavers see this career as a viable option." Bill, a BBC Radio Humberside listener, asked why the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire area missed out on billions of pounds worth of investment for transport projects. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Wednesday funding for tram, train and bus schemes in mayoral authorities across the Midlands, the North and the West Country. Dame Andrea Jenkyns said she wanted to come up with a fully costed transport plan for Greater Lincolnshire and promised to fight the business case for more transport investment for the region. She said: "The Government has given money where they've got Labour mayors and this is why we need to clean up politics." The mayor made transport one of the key pillars of her election campaign by pledging to create investment in major roads such as the A15, A52 and A17, along with "proper integration between buses, trains and cars". HM Treasury for a comment. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Andrea Jenkyns sworn in as Lincolnshire mayor Andrea Jenkyns: First Reform mayor has knack for bouncing back Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority BBC Radio Humberside
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Biofuel plant workers take concerns to Westminster
Workers from the UK's largest bioethanol plant have visited Westminster to raise concerns the facility could close within days without government support. Bosses of Vivergo Fuels in Saltend, near Hull, said the plant's future was "hanging in the balance" after the removal of a 19% tariff on US ethanol imports, which was part of the recent UK-US trade deal. The firm said that without urgent action, the plant, which employs more than 160 people, would no longer be viable. The government said it was working closely with the industry to understand the impacts of the trade deal and it was open to discussions over potential support. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, about 35 workers made the trip to London. Ben Hackett, managing director of Vivergo Fuels, said: "With the future of the Vivergo plant hanging in the balance, our workers felt compelled to speak directly to their MPs about what is at stake. "This isn't just about one site. It's about protecting thousands of skilled jobs, supporting British farming and preserving a vital part of our green energy infrastructure." MP for Hull East Karl Turner said: "The fact that dozens of workers had to travel from East Yorkshire to Westminster today shows just how serious this situation is. "Vivergo is not only a major employer in our region - it's a key player in our green economy and food security." The new mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell, urged the government to "rethink" the trade deal with the US to protect British job. In April, Associated British Foods (ABF) said it was in talks with the government to help save its Saltend plant after the company was forced to cut production levels due to low bioethanol prices. Vivergo Fuels produces bioethanol which is used in E10 petrol. E10, which was introduced in 2021 to help cut carbon emissions, contains up to 10% bioethanol. The plant also produces animal feed, which is a by-product of the bioethanol production process. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Biofuel plant 'faces closure after US trade deal' Biofuel plant could close with loss of 150 jobs Local Democracy Reporting Service Vivergo Fuels
