Broadband installer BRSK has promised to better communicate with local people when undertaking work after I raised concerns.
I met with the head of BRSK’s midlands region Laura Richardson following complaints from locals over the placement and inconvenience of installing telegraph poles across Dudley Borough to increase broadband cover.
I also received a letter from the company’s chief executive Giorgio Iovin, who I will meet in person later this month.
He said BRSK took the issues very seriously and he appreciated me bringing it to his attention.
He also said he had received concerns directly from the community regarding the project to install better broadband across the area.
“We pride ourselves on working closely with community stakeholders to educate and inform them,” the letter said.
“Unfortunately following several complaints and your letter, an internal investigation found that we have fallen short in some areas of our engagement process in parts of Stourbridge. It is now our highest priority to rectify this.
“We do not take these kinds of complaints lightly and do everything in our power to find suitable solutions.
“We are working with residents to find agreeable solutions to their complaints and are working collaboratively with the councillors.”
I was pleased the company is acting to put things right by reaching out to residents more effectively.
I’ve had quite a postbag about telegraph poles going up all over the place and causing inconvenience without too much communication with residents.
It’s clear BRSK felt it could have been handled better and it has promised to do so. I will hold them to it but I thank the company for being so open about the problems and being so keen to put it right.
It’s important to stress that what BRSK is doing is important work. It is going to make a huge difference to broadband coverage and speeds in Stourbridge and this is a big positive.
But I think everyone agrees: it needs to be done in a way that brings local people along.
