A telecommunications firm has been fined after carrying out ‘alarming’ unauthorised work in Bury. IX Wireless Ltd breached a works permit issued by Bury Council which allowed them to undertake a ‘trial dig’ on Rollesby Close.
Instead, workers for the firm built underground chambers and installed telecommunications equipment at the housing estate. Bury Council said that after it came to their attention last month that the work undertaken was not in the reasons for the permit, they used their enforcement powers and issued a fixed penalty notice to IX Wireless, on October 25.
READ MORE: 'You white b****rd': Gang left stranger with horror injuries in brutal, sudden attack
A Conservative councillor for the Elton ward has published a letter he sent to IX Wireless calling their unauthorised work actions ‘alarming’ and ‘astounding’.
Coun Jack Rydeheard, said: “A number of residents have contacted us to express their concerns about your actions. The location in question is a piece of land between Rollesby Close and Skegness Close.
“After consulting with the council team, we were beyond astounded and alarmed to learn that you have failed to consult with the council about any intention to install poles or equipment. As you will quite obviously know, your granted street works permit was for investigatory trial holes.
“It is quite simply unacceptable and you have rightly received a fixed penalty notice. You are reminded that you are obligated to consult directly with residents about any plans to install wireless communication infrastructure.”
On its website IX Wireless Ltd say they intend to ‘drive the rapid expansion of its innovative ultra speed network in the north of England and beyond’. They add: “Unlike traditional ‘dig and cover’ operators, the IX Wireless network deploys a fibre ring, carried above ground on its own telegraph pole infrastructure, as well as fixed wireless technologies to deliver gigabit capable broadband services to the premises.”
The company operates in tandem with its sister company, 6G Internet Ltd, who sell communications packages to consumers and businesses.
A spokesman for Bury Council, said: “IX Wireless had been granted a street works permit for a trial dig to determine the location of services in Rollesby Close, Bury. The permit was closed as completed on September 9, after which it came to our attention that they had instead installed underground equipment.
“As this was not the reason given by them in their application, a fixed penalty notice of £120 was issued for breach of permit conditions. IX Wireless accepted the fixed penalty notice on October 25.”
Eleven days after the work was closed as completed on September 9 but before the fine was issued on October 25, IX Wireless donated £5,000 to Bury North MP James Daly. In the MPs’ register of interests, published by the UK parliament the money was listed by Mr Daly as ‘for my campaigns’.
Mr Daly was one of 15 MPs, all Conservative, who collectively received £71,301 in donations from IX Wireless in September this year. There is no suggestion of impropriety in the donations. Mr Daly did not respond to a request for comment.
Blackburn-based IX Wireless LTD did not respond to requests for comment.
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
