LETTER: Broadband works have left residents with a right mess

Virgin Media has laid cables in our street and many other streets it seems in this area. This involves drilling up the pavements which displace the soil, cement and dust, which becomes mud.

Outside our houses the workmen moved on without cleaning up and making good the displacement. (This is not the case in other areas that have been left clean).

After contacting expansion works at Virgin Media, I was visited by two men who arrived separately, but unfortunately they were not there to clean up.

On the contrary, I was told that it could be days or weeks before they had a spare team, and in any case it probably needed a road cleaning machine.

I phoned Virgin Media again to express dissatisfaction, but no response, so I contacted Sandwell Council who I thought, must be supervising these works. The person I spoke to didn’t know who this was so was, so I left it as a complaint.

Meanwhile the mud treads into our homes from the pavement and covers our gates and garden walls.

These appear to be major works that have been carried out without supervision from Virgin, and with a casual contempt for the occupants of the houses on many streets.

Have any other readers shared this experience?

Susan Jewell, Bearwood

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “Virgin Media is currently expanding its network in Bearwood to bring ultrafast broadband to thousands of homes and businesses.

"We always try to minimise disruption to the local community and work closely with our contractors to ensure works are carried out with professionalism and to the highest standards.

With regards to the condition of pathways and roads, this is monitored by the local highways authority and any remedial work required will be completed before we leave the area. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to local residents.”