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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Jenny Kirkham

Police called after woman tries to stop BT staff from working on 'threatening' pole

Police were called after a woman tried to stop BT staff from working at a "threatening" pole.

Officers were sent to Field Road, in New Brighton , on Thursday afternoon to reports that a woman was obstructing workers.

It is believed that the row was sparked by a 25ft structure erected on the street in March.

A petition from residents was handed to Wirral Council in regards to the pole as over 200 people called for it to be removed .

At the time, Sally Griffiths told the ECHO that she has been unable to sleep because of the pole that was put up outside the front gate of her home and that neither the council or BT had warned her about it.

She added: "It's so tall I feel threatened by it."

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As Ms Griffiths and New Brighton  Cllr Pat Hackett continue to campaign for the pole to be removed, tensions reached boiling point after a woman in the area attempted to stop BT workers from carrying out their duties on the street.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police can confirm officers were called to Field Road, Wallasey this afternoon (Thursday, 18 April)  following reports of a woman obstructing some telecommunications work in the area.

"Officers attended and spoke with all parties – the woman was given advice and left the area. No arrests were made."

Last month, Cllr Hackett told a Wirral Council meeting that the pole has "shocked pedestrians, particularly those with sight and mobility problems".

At the time that the petition was filed, a spokesperson for Openreach, responsible for the pole,  said they carried out all work "sensitively and with minimal disruption to the local community".

Field Road in New Brighton (Google Street View)

They added: "We’ve carried out a thorough review including a site visit, and all of the relevant processes have been followed correctly ahead of putting this pole up.

"It’s there as part of our work to make ultrafast broadband more widely available in the local area."

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BT Openreach have been contacted for comment.

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