Councillors have raised concerns with Virgin Media about the impact of fibre optic cable-laying on the Middlethorpe estate which started in January and is to continue into March.

On Whin Road, tarmac has been used to fill channels that have been dug in concrete driveways and verges have been left devoid of grass.

Virgin Media have responded to say that the verges will be re-seeded and that the tarmac will be replaced with concrete, though they are “waiting for a forecast of a few good days of weather” before doing this work.

Councillors had queried with council officers why the streets are being dug up again so soon after the disruption caused by the TalkTalk / CityFibre UFO works, but were told that they had no powers to stop the works. Virgin Media have said, however, that for 50% of the scheme they will be able to use existing BT Openreach infrastructure, with the remaining 50% requiring digging in roads, verges and footpaths.