Things must have changed , i did a build in 2002, there were multiple lines running over the plot ( from a single pole), there was no problem getting the lines diverted via an additional pole, BT were very efficient and easy to deal with in getting it done, i paid nothing.

Currently BT are actually asking for £1000 to come and complete a survey. I'm not paying that. Unfortunately for BT I think this winter may cause those lines a few issues. If they come down in rough weather they will be denied access to repair so rerouting would be easier for them. How can they fly lines across land and then ask for payment to route them more sensibly. They could easily of kept them out of the field if they had followed the poles but they took the easy route causing me hassle.

100% agree Jonti. The key word there is "prove" and I hate taking hard lines of action but the whole system with BT is set up incorrectly. Their main aim imo is to improve a poor network having the consumer pay for neighbours cable rerouting when the cables shouldn't have gone that way in the first instance. It's not not correct.

There was a shakeup a few years ago when govt were trying to remove obstacles to rolling out broadband. Now telecoms companies (not just openreach) have pretty general rights to run and maintain cables wherever they like, they don't have to wait for landowners to agree (was a problem if eg one landowner was blocking a cable running to a whole street, or one owner couldn't be traced). If the landowner objects, they are entitled to compensation for the reduced market value of their land, but it's not very much money.

Traditionally they preferred to put all the poles in the publicly owned pavement in front of the houses, to avoid negotiations with individual owners. But the little startup telecom company that recently installed fibre in our village, now prefers to run the cables in through the fields and gardens behind the houses, as they now have the rights to do that and it's easier ground than digging up pavements with cones and traffic lights. TBF they were pretty careful to keep the landowners happy, but I don't think anyone was paid.

https://www.lambchambers.co.uk/property/the-electronic-communications-code-flying-lines-and-the-courts-power-to-impose-agreement/

Posted By: djhthere is a stay for a pole in one corner and they don't have a wayleave.

You might be able to get paid by them to enter into a wayleave so that they can keep it there. There is a standard amount per pole on your land but I'm not sure about just the stay for a pole. They want to sort out the network because so many don't have wayleaves/easements.