Condemned telegraph pole removal

dorkturnspit

Hi,
Have been having some issues with BT Openreach over the past year or so. We have a telegraph pole in our back garden in a really annoying position, right where we could put a gate. There's still room but not comfortable. Am also trying to build a step up to where the gate would be. There's a wayleave signed by a former owner and we know where we stand with this ie they can do whatever they want.

So, the pole was condemned (or whatever the term is they use) 6 years ago but was never taken down. We've had about 7 different Openreach engineers come to look at it and all agree it has to go. It's rotting in the bottom and now leaning to one side. They're due to take it out by this Friday at the latest but I don't think they'll come. Does anyone know how soon after a pole is termed as defective (that's the word!) it is meant to be removed? I really want to get on with building the steps and getting the gate in for security more than anything but I can't do it until they come. Anyone who has had any dealings with Openreach regarding wayleaves will know how frustrating it is. When they do  come to replace it I just need to know if it can be moved 50cm so it's out of the way.

Owain_Moneysaver

If a pole is defective it will almost always be replaced by a new pole in the same place.

dorkturnspit

Owain_Moneysaver said:

If a pole is defective it will almost always be replaced by a new pole in the same place.

Thanks. But do you know how soon after being classed as defective they should be replaced?

Ectophile

I would expect them to simply replace it with a nice new pole.  Your garden will smell of creosote for some time after.