Residents of an estate in Colby are calling on Manx Telecom and the government to lay new fibre broadband cables underground.

The roll-out of fibre broadband is a joint venture between the telecoms company and the Department for Enterprise and follows Tynwald’s unanimous approval of the government’s national broadband plan in 2018.

Roy and Anne Pacey, who live in Ballacriy Park, have told the Manx Independent they are supportive of the roll-out of faster broadband, but object to the telegraph poles that are being erected around the estate.

Mr Pacey said the first he knew of the plan was when the contractor began dropping letters through letterboxes a week ago. The work then began in the days afterwards.

He said the poles, which tower over the lampposts, are not in keeping with the estate and represent a backwards step.

’This is how work was done when I was a lad,’ he said.

Mr Pacey also noted that the existing cables which provide telephone and broadband to Ballacriy Park are already underground.

Mrs Pacey said that having spoken with neighbours, they discovered others were surprised to see the poles being erected.

She said: ’The contractors have a job to do, so we don’t have anything against them, but the aesthetic look is awful.’

Mr and Mrs Pacey have since started a petition which they intend to present to Manx Telecom and the DfE calling on them to lay the new cables underground.

’If it was essential, we’d have to accept it, but it isn’t so they should go underground,’ Mr Pacey said.

Mr and Mrs Pacey and other residents have contacted their MHKs Jason Moorhouse and Home Affairs Minister Graham Cregeen who have set about organising a meeting with DfE and Manx Telecom.

Mr Moorhouse told the Manx Independent that the situation is ’really worrying’ and his constituents ’have been completely ignored’. ’There has been a reluctance to consider their concerns,’ he said.

He added: ’This type of activity by the telecoms providers is something which could impact on the life of anybody in the island - you could arrive home tonight to find a 9m telecommunications pole located directly in front of your house and have received no prior warning.

’I have been in contact with the local commissioners who are equally surprised by what has happened. The location of the poles appears to have been a desktop exercise.’

Mr Cregeen, in a letter shared with residents of Ballacriy Park, said he has contacted DfE and Manx Telecom to enquire why the fibre broadband can’t go underground. He told the Manx Independent it is likely an issue of cost.

He confirmed that Manx Telecom and DfE have agreed to a public meeting on November 19 to discuss the fibre roll-out in Colby.

In a statement, the DfE said Manx Telecom was awarded the contract to deliver wholesale ultrafast fibre broadband in nine zones across the island, with the aim to make it available to 99%+ of premises within the next four years.

It said: ’The department understands that Manx Telecom has endeavoured to keep residents and businesses informed as and when ultra-fast broadband passes their premises, including information regarding any poles or other works that are required to complete the roll out in their area.

’More than one third of the island is connected by poles, and installation to specific areas may require new poles to be added to ensure all premises can be reached.’