We’re in our 80s, a broadband pole has ruined our dream retirement home

When they were younger, Christine and Michael McCarthy always holidayed in Devon with their children and always dreamed of retiring there one day. The couple, who were born in Preston, Lancashire, achieved their dream by retiring early 29 years ago and buying a small bungalow in the village of Holcombe, in the south of Devon, with stunning sea-views. “We had always wanted a sea-view and we bought this bungalow because of its beautiful view over the sea,” said Christine, 87. Shorts “We live on the side of a hill and in one direction, it slopes down to the beach and in the other direction, it goes into the valley,” she added. “Everyone who comes to visit us always says it is like paradise.” However, the couple, who have been married for 65 years and have three children and five grandchildren, say people will not be so envious of their views anymore. They told The i Paper their idyllic landscape has been “ruined” by the presence of an “ugly” 40-foot telegraph pole which suddenly appeared after a neighbour had ultra-fast broadband installed by internet provider Airband. “We now have the ugliest looking pole on our pavement – it is just horrible,” said Christine, a retired health visitor who was also a magistrate. “It has metal footholes and it is right in the view of the bungalow above us. “There is an awful black cable from our pavement which goes right across our living room window down to the bungalow below us. It undulates in the wind and is so distracting.” Christine and Michael say the pole is ugly and a lot of people are unhappy and resentful about it Christine and Michael, 88, who is a retired engineer, explained that they bought their small two-bedroom bungalow to grow old in and they converted their garage to a third bedroom to make space for when family came to visit. “We like to keep up with the modern world and our broadband wasn’t very good at the time. Airband were putting letters through the door encouraging people to go with them for their internet,” said Christine. “We enquired about it, but as soon as we realised they were going to put the cables overland, we weren’t interested and did not take them up on it.” However, the couple say that one of their neighbours enquired about internet with Airband and said he was assured the cables would be laid underground. But on the day of installation, Christine and Michael returned home to find workmen erecting the telegraph pole outside their home. Michael said: “They installed the pole when it was getting dark. I saw people digging and then this awful thing suddenly appeared and was erected on the pavement. “It is so ugly and it spoils the whole close and there is a lot of ill feeling and people are resentful and unhappy about it. It is so disappointing and stressful and our lovely outlook has been spoiled.” The neighbour who had the internet installed says he was told by Airband that they were trying to come to an arrangement with BT where the company would take over and put his line underground with their cables. However, to date, nothing has happened. Christine says she wrote a letter of complaint to Airband’s then CEO Kashif Rahman earlier this year, but did not even receive an acknowledgement. Kashif Rahman stepped down at the end of April this year. “We have asked them to take this unsightly pole down, but nothing happens. This cable which goes diagonally across our living room window directly to the bungalow below is so disorientating as it is never still and fluctuates in the wind and makes me feel dizzy,” said Christine. Michael said: “It has ruined the enjoyment of our home. We just feel there is nothing we can do to improve our situation. It is so unfair.” Christine says the black cable undulating in the wind is distracting and makes her feel dizzy John Woolner, another resident living on the Close, said: “The pole was erected without any consultation as to its position and without any thought given to the visual or environmental impact. “It has wrecked the view my wife and I once enjoyed and had a significant impact on our wellbeing. It is also hugely unpopular in the neighbourhood.” The i Paper approached Airband for comment but received no response. Would you like to share your housing nightmare story? Email: Aasma.day@theipaper.com