Residents of a Merseyside town have been left concerned after flyers appeared this week.
The notices have appeared on lampposts and fences on many streets across Newton-le-Willows.
They outline plans to install fibre internet poles across the town, with many of the poles planned for residential streets and areas close to homes.
READ MORE: People have high hopes for town's regeneration 'masterplans'
However some residents are confused by the vague plans, and are unsure how big the poles will be, with some people wondering why the fibre cabling cannot be fitted underground instead.
One resident said: "Can they not use existing phone line poles? Seems silly to double up. One thing I always notice when going abroad is the abundance of ugly overhead cables, let’s try and keep it to a minimum."
One of the main concerns of the residents on Clarence Street estate, Newton-le-Willows, was the proximity of the proposed cable poles to people's homes, and worries that the poles may be an eyesore.
Another resident said: "One is being put at the end of my drive practically. Gonna be a right eyesore."
Not all people on the estate are against the plans, one resident said: "In the long term once it's all setup it will allow fast fibre broadband into homes.
"It should then allow homes to get faster broadband and possibly through more operators than what you may currently get. If anything, its somewhat a positive."
Residents were also grateful that the Freedom Fibre team were open to communicate with residents, Michelle Finney told the ECHO : "Stephen the site manager was very helpful an explained everything clearly and was able to move the pole to where I suggested."
A spokesperson for the company fitting the fibre apparatus, Freedom Fibre, said: "Freedom Fibre connects communities which suffer from poor broadband speeds or would like to benefit from ultra-fast FTTP (Fibre to the Premises).
"Freedom Fibre firmly believes in “connectivity for everyone”, and that the latest Full Fibre broadband should be a right accessible to all.
"Where possible, Freedom Fibre uses existing BT Openreach ducts/pole infrastructure, which covers approximately 80% of any new build area.
"Where no underground ducts/poles exist, it is necessary to install new poles or undertake new trenching works.
"New trenches are much more disruptive to residents; they take significantly longer to install and are substantially more expensive compared to new poles to carry the fibre.
"We work in co-operation with local Councils and their Street Works departments.
"We plan to build three areas in the Newton Le Willows exchange, which are Burtonwood/Collins Green, Earlestown and Newton. The build will commence in Burtonwood and then move on to Earlestown and finally Newton.
"We have also been engaging with local parish and resident meetings in Burtonwood.
"This is part of the programme of preparatory work to bring ultra-fast broadband services to residents there.
"Some of this work borders Earlestown, so some residents there may have been alerted to the plans.
"All of Earlestown residents in our planned work area will be notified in the next couple of weeks."
Residents can ask questions on the work and view more info here or calling 0333 011 5110 .
.jpg?w=600)
