Bosses at BT have apologised and acted swiftly after contractors erected a new telephone pole right in front of a blue plaque.
The BT Openreach pole had been erected on the corner of a street in Bedminster, slap bang in front of a blue plaque commemorating one of Bristol’s feminist icons.
Jessie Stephen was born in Scotland and as a 15-year-old joined the Women’s Suffrage movement, becoming the youngest Suffragette to be arrested during that struggle for the vote and equal rights.
She later moved to Bristol, and became a pioneer of women’s rights, particularly in the workplace. She was the first female president of the Trades Council.
She was elected to the city council, and even stood for parliament. In later years, she was awarded the MBE for services to the trade union movement.
She lived at a house on a street corner in Bedminster, and was well known in Bristol as an ardent campaigner.
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That house had a blue plaque commemorating her life and death at the age of 86 in 1979.
But earlier this year, BT Openreach erected a new telegraph pole to beef up wireless and phone connectivity in this part of Bedminster, but workers put the pole right in front of the blue plaque.
When this was pointed out on social media, many in South Bristol objected, including long-standing Labour councillor Helen Holland, who said: “This is so thoughtless and disappointing.”
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BT Openreach, the company which installs the telecoms network in Britain, were quick to respond to a growing backlash on social media.
“This is not good,” the company tweeted. “Thanks for letting us know. We’re sending a team out to move the pole as soon as possible.”
And sure enough, within 24 hours, two Openreach vehicles arrived to remove the pole, rather than moving the plaque.
It remains to be seen whether the pole will be replaced nearby, or not at all.
