Derbyshire Broadband ISP Gets into Trouble for its Tall Peak District Erection

Around 300 homes in the Peak District National Park (central England) could be about to lose access to an 80Mbps capable superfast fixed wireless broadband network because of a planning dispute, which exists between local ISP Derbyshire Broadband and the park authority.

The issue centres on the erection of a fairly inconspicuous 3.5 metre tall antenna, which was installed in the High Peak area during February 2017 as part of a £100,000 community project. A report on the BBC states that the antenna was installed on Colin Hanson-Orr’s land (a local farmer), following discussions with the park’s planners and on the grounds that it was within the government’s own planning guidance.

However, the park authority states that they had only offered “general” advice and the project’s original inquiry related to an area that wasn’t inside of the national park. Meanwhile Mr Hanson-Orr, who has been given 28 days to remove the installation, describes the situation as “ludicrous” and notes that there have been “no objections” from local people to the antenna.

One small ray of hope has at least been offered by the director of the Peak District National Park Authority, John Scott, who claims that he wants to work with the ISP in order correct the “misunderstanding.” Scott proposes to do this by striking a balance between the need for fast broadband and looking after the landscape, although moving the antenna could affect its coverage and potentially make it unviable.

The authority claims to have written to the ISP in April 2017 but never got a response, although the provider denies ever having received such a letter. Customers who subscribe to the service can pay from £15 per month for a 20Mbps (5Mbps upload) package with a 30GB usage allowance, which goes up to £75 for the top unlimited 80Mbps (10Mbps upload) option. A one-off installation charge of £149 (12 month contract) or £199 (30 day contract) is also applied.