Just had a call from VM

They are now willing to enter into preliminary discussions regarding installation of cable services.

Now need the management committee to arrange a site visit.

All subject to VM applying for and obtaining wayleaves over the land where the cables will run.

And of course enough residents willing to take the service.

Edited by Brunel (Fri 09-May-14 10:13:27)

The guy may well be fine.

At least Virgin Media actually are trying to deliver higher speeds rather than spending as little as they can get away with and delivering only what is expedient like some.

I rec'd this from VM today.


thanks for the mail - I have forwarded this to the new build officer for the North of England.

With no network being installed internally here , we would need to run cables and/or conduit on the outside of the buildings. In addition, we would need to connect our network through the grounds of the complex to the network outside.

One of the first requirements would be for wayleave to be signed by the management company to allow us to do this - have you contact details for them please?

Thanks again for your enquiry.

Progress?

This is very, very interesting and I believe is as a result of VM's new owners.

In the past they would have just said sorry you are out of our network area/sorry apartment blocks are too difficult for us to cable up due to wayleaves.

The fact they are actively engaging with you surprises me.

WAYLEAVE: This could be a huge hurdle, the Freeholder of all the buildings is a property company.

Their agent SIMARC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT is well known for exorbitant fees.

Try a GOOGLE search.

At least we may have some progress.

Have been contacted by VM today.

As expected, the Landlord's agent SIMARC are demanding an exorbitant fee for allowing VM to enter.

VM are refusing to pay any fee.

Copy of letter from SIMARC:


Thank you for your recent correspondence enclosing the Wayleave Agreement.

We wish to confirm that we, ourselves, would not be able to sign your agreement on behalf of our clients, the Freeholders without first sending the papers to our client�s solicitors for their comments. We are informed our clients solicitors fees are £250 plus VAT and upon receipt of which together with the Wayleave Agreement payment of £750 we shall then put the matter in hand.

Please make your cheque payable to Simarc Property Management Limited.

I've been through this.

I suggest you take this directly to your MP to take up with the company directly.

I've spent the last year working on this and have finally go there (I hope), with contracts having been signed by all involved.

Getting support from you neighbours with a signed petition would help your MP take your case forward. I've with my neighbours who seem to lethargic in the extreme and this made my task harder.

Write to the finance director of the building (investment?) company copying in the chairman explaining that the evidence is that fibre broadband is now viewed as a necessity - it also adds value to a property and makes it more attractive to anyone looking to rent. Indeed Rightmove now include broadband figures for all properties advertised on there.

If they still won't play ball - take it to the likes of the Daily Mail and BBC's Watchdog and let them name them. Then move home - it's the only way you're going to get fibre.

Thanks, like yourself trying to involve my neighbours might prove to be extremely difficult.