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Manhole cover broken for momths

wenda — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 10:58:10 GMT

How can I get some help? There has been a broken BT manhole cover on the main road, causing 24/7 extremely loud banging that is stopping me sleeping & effecting my mental health. Council said it is BT problem. I have called BT 4 times over the past 2months & each time am told an engineer will visit within. 48hrs. Someone visits but nothing is fixed.

no one will he’ll fix this 😞

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

imjolly — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:11:38 GMT

the cover has nothing to do with BT Retail and will be property of openreach. you need to contact openreach

https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/submitFeedbackLoggedInUser.do

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

wenda — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:40:42 GMT

Oh? The council said it was BT. And the BT man came twice and said it was theirs.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

wenda — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 11:43:34 GMT

thanks for the reply. I checked again and the number I called 3 times already is the number on the link you sent. 2months on and there is still no sign of it being fixed despite 2 engineer visits already and another due this week since my 3rd report.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

imjolly — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:07:40 GMT

sorry but there is nothing this customer forum can do to help as there is no link from here to openreach

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

Devon_Dave — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 06:20:27 GMT

This will not be repaired as such, it will require the old frame digging out and replaced with a new frame and lid. This will require traffic management or depending on where in the road the box is it may need a complete road closure.

Openreach have to apply to the council for this and depending on the road there may be a section 28 Inforce meaning roadworks can only take place at certain times of the year.

Many roads cannot be worked in if its on a holiday route in the summer.

So just because the work has not been completed it does not mean that work is going on in the background.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

Goldenhammerman — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 09:37:56 GMT

My 5d worth. If the cover is definitely in the Roadway (as opposed to a layby or pavement) report the matter on the Devon Highways (D.C.C.) Website where you report a variety of matters, blocked gullies, faulty streetlights, damaged signage etc and harp on in the comment section on your report from the Safety Aspect - hazzard, danger to motorists etc etc. The wheels of D.C.C. will turn, usually slowly, (you can check the progress of your report online) and they will bring their influence (eventually) to bear on the authority whose duty it is to rectify / remedy this cover as Devon_Dave has described.
I know a bit about manhole covers as our Exeter based family business has littered the streets of Devon and beyond with their own produced Municipal Castings! There's a clue in my username.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:14:25 GMT

Hi Wenda!

Are you referring to the most noisy and 24/7 disturbing manhole BT from 39 Lower Stone Street by the Miller Heights building ???

OMG that metallic noise coming from the big lids right on the Street each and every other second when absolutely every car is passing over it..cars, lorries, buses... anything with wheels IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS that no one cares to come and fix it...total lack of empathy for the neighbours of the Custcutter building &Miller Heights building plus across the street.

We've contacted the Council, the Highway Engineer for KCC, awaited for him in person to arrive at that manhole location and he recognised that is a BT Internet hole underneath and the broken lid must be fixed by BT people ( he was here in front of the manhole on 2nd of April 24), was already sprayed by someone and the gentleman was meant to find out by whom and when will be fixed....zero answers or signs of street closure at Night when is less traffic, so they can plan fixing it.

It appears that they forget we're human being that deserves a healthy resting and sleeping on our expensive renting places. I will write to the local Newspapers&BBC as well, because I have a high risk pregnancy due to Epilepsy, distressed day& night, unable to keep it safe at all.The renting Agency doesn't deal with that, so we can't even move the flat elsewhere, safely...WHO TO CONTAAAAACT ????

I'm getting absolutely exhausted to beg for help and day by day the noise getting worse as traffic is non-stop.

WE NEED HELP... SOMEONE CAN HEAR/SEE US??

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:16:37 GMT

Hi everyone!

Are you referring to the most noisy and 24/7 disturbing manhole BT from 39 Lower Stone Street by the Miller Heights building ???

I'm getting absolutely exhausted to beg for help and day by day the noise getting worse as traffic is non-stop.

WE NEED HELP... SOMEONE CAN HEAR/SEE US??

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:17:46 GMT

Hi everyone!

Are you referring to the most noisy and 24/7 disturbing manhole BT from 39 Lower Stone Street by the Miller Heights building ???

I'm getting absolutely exhausted to beg for help and day by day the noise getting worse as traffic is non-stop.

WE NEED HELP... SOMEONE CAN HEAR/SEE US??

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:19:46 GMT

Hi everyone!

Are you referring to the most noisy and 24/7 disturbing manhole BT from 39 Lower Stone Street by the Miller Heights building ???

I'm getting absolutely exhausted to beg for help and day by day the noise getting worse as traffic is non-stop.

WE NEED HELP... SOMEONE CAN HEAR/SEE US??

Then give us the right phone number, emails and contacts if you know who actually must be contacted Sir and we won't bother the Community group with our pain!

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:22:22 GMT

@StefiVasMaidstone

This has nothing to do with BT Retail, or this forum.

You need to complain to Openreach.

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/damage-health-and-safety

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/when-to-get-in-touch-with-openreach/complaints-policy

This is just a customer to customer help forum, everyone here, including myself, are just customers.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 11:25:37 GMT

Mr.Guru

We appreciate giving us the break out of the road work but is useless unless this complaint reaches the right eyes/ears.

It's inhumanly to be left surviving in such as stressful environment....that we pay for peace and silence but getting undemanded 24/7 metallic manhole covers noise from BT Company to come and fix it between 39 Lower Stone Street and Miller Heights building.

Please pass by and stop there 5 minutes and try imagining our 24/7 type of disturbance level, especially when our bedrooms are placed towards the street. We're used to the traffic but we never can get used to that scary noises at any point in time, day or night.

Please.... bit of empathy it's required here...no one deserves that 😭

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

Devon_Dave — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:08:09 GMT

As Keith has already explained you need to contact Openreach using the links he supplied. BT do not deal with the network.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

WSH — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:30:41 GMT

Just to clarify…

As I understand it, many years ago, the infrastructure was owned and operated by BT. Then OFCOM insisted that the infrastructure be separated from the retail side of the business, as the current arrangement was unfair to the competition. A lot of old manhole covers will still be marked “BT”, however. (In fact, the really old ones are marked “GPO” – General Post Office, who originally did the phones. That’s going back some).

In fact, today the infrastructure is the responsibility of Openreach. While Openreach and BT are both still technically part of “BT Group”, they are obliged to operate as separate companies. Your problem is with Openreach. BT retail, this forum, have no say in the matter and therefore can’t help.

Have you thought about getting the council noise abatement people onboard? They could probably apply more pressure.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

tonysmini018 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 12:27:26 GMT

Try speaking to Openreach via Twitter @weareopenreach , ask them if the social media team can pass on the details to the correct team to chase up the repair (bare in mind they are a SM team, not planners, engineers or policy makers).

As the others have said, it’s likely waiting on a PTW and a road closure, that’s likely at least a 3 month delay.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 15:52:58 GMT

I appreciate your answer Tony 🙏

I don't ever use Twitter. It's insane to wait @3months for something so so much disturbing to anyone's brain and quality of life. Planning to move out in 7 weeks though as cannot deliver my baby and have this for the upcoming sleepless nights with a freshly born one. Feel terribly sorry for the neighbours that daily are mouning and trying to find a solution, same as myself.

I bet you/anyone cannot live 30 minutes next to my window/bedroom on 39-40Lower Stone Street, Maidstone....will drive you crazy.Not even on Maidstone East Railway Station can hear the train passing/ entering the station as we can endure the repetitive sound all day& night long 😭

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

StefiVasMaidstone — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 15:57:32 GMT

Yes but zero plan of actions...just spraying it around and carrying on with their peaceful life as they aren't directly distressed themselves. Someone said "@3months waiting time for BT to fix it...FROM THE MOMENT OUR COMPLAINTS REACHING TO THE RIGHT EARS/PEOPLE/TEAM/DEPARTMENT....so currently we aren't counting down....just cry over eachother s shoulders

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

tonysmini018 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:04:17 GMT

Openreach are not allowed to just rock up, close off a road and repair a noisy lid. They need the appropriate permits from the council/highways authorities to do it.
Diversions need to be planned and checked with bus companies and emergency services first and put in place. Most councils this has at least a 3 month wait, some even longer in holiday destinations or particularly busy routes.

I get that it’s disturbing but as someone else said, get your local council and MP involved (helps cut through the red tape on their end) and let them get it through.

Re: Manhole cover broken for momths

tonysmini018 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:12:19 GMT

Did anyone give you a job reference number when you reported it, either on a text message or an email?