YORK council leader David Carr says cable laying problems in Copmanthorpe have improved following his intervention

The Copmanthorpe ward councillor was speaking after The Press yesterday reported complaints about garden hedges being burnt by exhausts from equipment used by Virgin Media contractors to lay new fibre optic cables. Villagers also complained about blocked and poorly reinstated pavements.

Cllr Carr said residents had rightly been ‘upset and concerned,” adding that the problems have included “poor communication to residents, inadequate vehicle identification, poor traffic management, street and footpath blockages, damage to private property”.

He said things were getting better as a result of meetings he had had with Virgin’s senior management, including clearer badging and contact numbers, increased site visits by senior management, removal of offending personnel from sites, apologies to residents, and increased visits by council enforcement officers.

“I will continue to maintain pressure on Virgin Media on behalf of residents,” he added.

Meanwhile, independent Osbaldwick councillor Mark Warters claims he complained previously about burning hedges in Tang Hal and was assured Virgin was getting machines with exhausts facing the other way or deflectors to take hot gases away from hedges, but different contractors worked in Copmanthorpe.

Virgin Media has said that as it continued to expand its fibre network to bring faster broadband, it endeavoured to minimise disruption for the local community.

It apologised for any inconvenience caused, and was aware of some concerns and was working hard to resolve these as soon as possible.