The work by Talk Talk as UFO (Ultra Fibre Optic) has been spreading over Westfield Ward in recent months as part of the citywide effort to improve very fast broadband connection. However, an increasing number of complaints have been received by Westfield Ward Lib Dem Councillors from residents and we have now called for a meeting with the company to establish how these will be rectified before moving onto new areas.  Previously problems had been quickly rectified with residents personally contacted and apologies given, but this does not seem to be the experience, with residents in Danesfort Avenue flagging down a councillor to complain about what they had experienced trying to get out on the school run.

Specific concerns range from verges being dug up and left in a poor condition over winter, and tarmac being used to fill in gaps on concrete driveways. At the Ward Committee meeting on 14th March representatives from Talk Talk gave an update and detailed that there were regular meetings with the Council’s Highways Department to sort out how streets would be put back into order. Stuart Road had been identified in February by residents. However, more verges have been dug up (often digging up bulbs which volunteers had planted) and left with a strip of rubble (or the whole width).  A letter requesting a meeting has been sent to the management of Talk Talk before the situation gets out of hand. It is not clear what the plan is to restore our verges, and there is a danger to grass cutting (and nearby pedestrians) due to the stones at the surface.

 

Last week the council team were called upon to help residents in Ascot Way and Windsor Garth get the number 24 bus back into operation as the sheer volume of UFO vans had blocked the route which is depended upon by many elderly residents in the estate. In response council officers contacted Arriva and Talk Talk to resolve the issues and get the bus back on track. This week Chapelfields saw the number 1 bus route diverted from the estate, running along Ridgeway instead, however, residents did get some warning of  this.