A SCHOOLTEACHER has raised concerns over an ‘imposing’ telephone pole put up outside his living room window without any warning.

Openreach, which is owned by BT Group plc, have started installing telecommunication infrastructure across Fareham in an effort to bring ultra-fast broadband to the area.

John Tillotson, of Eden Rise, teaches at The Bay School in Gosport.

He said he returned from work last week to find a ten-metre telephone pole outside his house without any prior warning.

READ MORE: Large 5G mast could be built in Hedge End

He said: "I phoned Fareham Borough Council to find out why we hadn’t been notified and they said that BT Openreach had notified them – but they didn’t let them know exactly where they were going to put them.

"BT can just put the post wherever they like, they don’t have to consult the residents and they don’t have to consult the council as such.

"If they moved it three or four metres around the corner from where it currently is it would not be so imposing on the neighbourhood.

"As you come into the close the first thing you see is this great big telephone pole which is now sat quite prominently in the middle of the close.

"The other neighbours asked me if I knew anything about it, they looked at my face and said I guess not."

READ MORE: 5G masts - Four times people took matters into their own hands

An Openreach spokesperson said: "Our engineers and build partners are working hard to bring ultrafast, ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband to Fareham, which will not only create huge benefits to families and businesses in the area but also a welcome boost to the local economy.

"Wherever possible, we use existing infrastructure (poles and ducts) while building Full Fibre. We’re aware of the visual impact our equipment can have and the balance between cost-effectiveness, aesthetics and safety can be difficult to achieve.

"As a result, there are times when we simply cannot avoid erecting poles in order to provide services efficiently, safely and in a sound engineering manner.

"In this case, we are liaising with the resident to review any feasible alternate locations to site the pole."

This article was initially erroneously illustrated by a photo of a 5G mast.

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