BT Pole and Stay Wire
 

Hi

I need a little help. I have artiritus in both hips and want to install a driveway next to my house. ON the verge outside I have a telephone pole with a stay wire. 2.5 m away I have a main junction box in the ground. I t looks like I am goint to have to put the driveway in between the stay wire and the junction box which leaves it a bit tight. Can I ask BT to move the stay wire ? Does anybody know the costs for this. I have alled both BT and openreach but nobody seems to know without me paying for one of their surveyors to come out.

Thank you

Re: BT Pole and Stay Wire
 

The stay wire is where it is because it is counteracting the force being applied to the opposite side of the pole. In your situation I'm guessing this force will be coming from the weight of lines running from the pole to homes in your street. If the stay wire is incorrectly placed then it won't be doing its job properly and in time the pole will tilt and could even fall over.

That said, I'm not an expert and there could be a little leeway to move it a few inches. But it is theirs, they have the right to put it there and any costs that arise from this project do fairly belong to you. If this is important to you then you are going to have to pay for it to be properly surveyed.

Have you approached your local authority? Sometimes there are grants for medically necessary alterations to your home.

Re: BT Pole and Stay Wire
 

By a stay wire I presume you mean the type of wire used to support the pole? Should be easy to relocate but unfortunately, you are in BTs hands, this is normally work they wouldn't want to do so they tend to charge a high price. I think your best bet would be to get a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and hope BT are kind! I think you'll still probably have to pay for a surveyor

Re: BT Pole and Stay Wire
 

in the first instance , Contact your council highways Dept and request a dropped kerb, they will survey to check it is safe, meets highway planning regs etc to have a dropped kerb at that location. it is then their job to contact Openreach if any alterations to the BT network are required as you do not have any rights regarding moving the pole or stay as it is situated on the public highway not your property. The council will then pass on the costs to you as part of the overall job.
what dept did you speak to at BT openreach. ??

Re: BT Pole and Stay Wire
 

A doctor's note wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference. Openreach are under a lot of pressure to cut costs at the moment. They'd want the full cost paid for to move the pole. The stay wire can't be moved to another side as it needs to be on the side it is to counteract the weight of the cables.

The only option as I can see it is to move the whole pole but of course then you'd have to put a new wire up to every house. Very expensive job.