CityFibre chaos as damage caused to car and garden during work

Residents of Grantham Close have described workers digging up roads and pavement to install new high-speed fibre-optic internet cables as a "nightmare", raising a number of problems experienced during the Summer construction. 

Among the problems mentioned were "patchwork finishing" to pavements, dangerous holes left inadequately covered, and leftover dust and mess that was not cleaned up.

On top of this, one resident had the windscreen of their car was smashed by a truck-mounted grabber picking up and dumping debris 'recklessly', and another had a junction box installed in their front garden without permission.

The former who wished not to be named said she had raised the complaint about the damage to her car and after being initially told she'd hear back from CityFibre shortly, is still waiting for a response weeks later. 

The latter, who also wanted to remain anonymous, explained that they were on holiday and returned to find the green box in the middle of their garden after raising the matter with CityFibre it was removed leaving a hole behind, but they are still involved in an ongoing legal process after the situation. 

Another resident said: "They left the street in a state, I counted thirty bottles of water that they'd just thrown away, the pavements and roads look like jigsaw puzzles, and they haven't even cleaned up, all of the cars and houses were pebble-dashed with dirt.

"This is our street we live in it and we take pride in our street, they don’t care," they added. 

The hole left behind after a junction box was removed, and a crack in a car windscreen both left by CityFibre (Image: Councillor Sean Wilson)

Several residents also reported that workers had their children with them during construction, and were entertaining them by driving them up and down the street. 

Ward councillor Sean Wilson, who had helped residents deal with the fallout, said the infrastructure business needed to improve and highlighted that.

"They have had to put up with noise, dangerous hazards and damage to property whilst City Fibre's contractors have made a complete mess of installing fibre optic cables in the street

"As CityFibre is installing cable all over Swindon in the next few years they need to urgently review their standards & procedures."

Neil Madle, CityFibre’s area manager for Swindon, said: “We regret that concerns have been raised in this case.

"We’d like to reassure residents that any concerns are handled through our robust complaints handling process, and thank them for their patience and support as we transform the town’s digital capabilities.”