BT Openreach challenged on computer box “graffiti”

BT Openreach are being challenged by Richard, and by Sutton Council’s Planning Enforcement Team, over unsightly fliers posted on many of their green computer boxes.

Richard has fought a long campaign to get BT Openreach to move a large green computer box located right outside the front of a house in Cedar Road, Sutton. BT maintains that due to an Act of Parliament they do not need planning permission for these boxes and can put them anywhere they like. They are still refusing to move the box.

However, Richard saw red when he observed that BT had stuck advertising on the box.

He said:

“I am not against these boxes as such, because we need them for Broadband, but some have been positioned in an unsuitable place that upsets local residents, such as the one in Cedar Road. 

“They are mostly inconspicuous but will not be if the owner flyposts the box with advertising. These boxes are all over the place and will be an unsightly mess if they are covered with advertising. If BT Openreach establish that they can flypost the boxes, all of these boxes will be covered in advertising in no time at all. It will make our streets an unsightly mess.”

Other Councils agree that the adverts are objectionable and unlawful, but BT refuses to move them. A test case is being brought by Westminster Council to prosecute BT for unlawful advertising. In the meantime, the Enforcement Team are sticking posters over the BT posters saying “Cancelled: This sign is unauthorised and has been cancelled by the London Borough of Sutton”.

The photograph above shows the offending box in Cedar Road. The photo below shows Richard sticking the “Cancelled” poster over the notice.