A Dundee councillor has criticised the “large and unsightly” cabinets being installed on pavements across the city to bring superfast broadband to homes and businesses.
Fraser Macpherson, Liberal Democrat member for the west end, said he had already received complaints from residents about the BT Openreach equipment.
He is concerned that the company only needs planning permission for the 1.6m-high cabinets if they are in conservation areas.
Several applications for consent have been made recently for sites around the city.
Mr Macpherson said, “A new large-style utility box in the west end installed by BT Openreach has rightly incurred the wrath of local residents because, not only is it large and unsightly, it did not require planning permission to be installed.
“The box at the roundabout at the west end of Blackness Road is much larger than adjacent utility boxes.”
He added, “Having checked with planning officers I am advised that these boxes will start springing up right across the city, but only those in conservation areas will require to go through the planning process.”
Mr Macpherson has asked the company for an assurance that the cabinets will be covered with anti-graffiti paint and arrangements are made to ensure graffiti is removed, as happens in the case of Virgin Media cable TV boxes. He has also been in touch with council management asking that the applications in conservation areas come before councillors for a decision rather than be dealt with by officers under delegated powers.Multiple applications”Whilst each of these applications must be decided on their individual merits, it is important that they are democratically determined through the committee process,” he said.
The latest list of planning applications includes six by BT Openreach for broadband cabinets in Perth Road, Park Road, Taylor’s Lane, Strathern Road, Grove Road and Panmure Street.
In support of its applications the company says that all the sites have been chosen to be as unobtrusive as practicable, with consideration given to sightlines from nearby roads and driveways.
The official name of the equipment is DSLAM cabinets, which stands for digital subscriber line access multiplexer. They will be connected to BT’s existing network of primary connection points, where the telephone lines from a group of premises come together to be connected to the exchange.
The company explained, “At present there is only one design of DSLAM cabinet available. Inside the cabinet, electronic equipment provides the conversion between fibre optic to copper.
“Every effort has been made to accommodate this important piece of telecommunications equipment in order that visual intrusion is minimised and the impact upon road users and pedestrians is reduced.
“It is considered that the siting of the cabinets has been made using the optimum location, taking into account both town planning and highways requirements.”