Slough dad slams Virgin Media for box outside home

Shafait Hussain lives in Northern Road a long residential neighbourhood near Stoke Park in the town.

Dad Mr Hussain is hoping to have a driveway built to his house, similar to one his neighbour has.

However, he fears his plans have been scuppered as Virgin Media has begun installing a cabinet box outside his house.

Mr Hussain said: “They’ve already got one box just a few feet away, they’re just putting one right in the centre.

“They could have put it nearer the tree."

The parent hoped to be able to seek approval for a driveway to allow better access for his family which requires additional needs.

Mr Hussain fears he will no longer be able to move ahead with his plan for the driveway as the installation of the Virgin Media cabinet causes an obstruction, therefore inflating the price of planning and labour to establish a driveway.

The new Virgin media box being stalled outside the house in Northern Road, Slough. Credit: Shafait Hussain

He said: “My quote increased from £7,500 to £15,000, so I have to save up.

“We’re all thinking of our finances, I think it’s unfair.”

Mr Hussain has not submitted a planning application because of his financial situation.

He has also voiced frustration at the council for allowing Virgin Media to conduct the works.

Mr Hussain said: “They carry out work whenever they want.

“The council is so useless, people always do what they like.

“I just thought, hang on that’s wrong. I’d have to spend more money to get it altered, but they [Virign Media] could do the alterations right now.”

Although he still has hopes that he could establish a driveway, the project depends on his finances.

He said: “It’s going to become difficult for me in the near future, next year or the year after.”

Currently, Mr Hussain parks his car nearby in Northern Road, where there is increasing competition for space.

An illustration of the problem with Virgin Media boxes being installed in Northern Road, Slough. Credit: Shafait Hussain

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Virgin Media whether it would consider relocating the cabinet box, and explain the reason for the works.

A spokesperson for the company said: “We’re currently expanding our network in Slough to bring ultrafast gigabit broadband to more homes and businesses in the area.

“We make every effort to choose our cabinet locations carefully and prior to any installations, we have a duty to notify the local authority.

“In this case, no issues were raised and we received the necessary permissions.”

A spokesperson for Slough Borough Council clarified that the grass verge the cabinet is being installed on is public highway land.

Because Virgin Media is a ‘statutory undertaker’ as a communications company, it has the right to install equipment on the public highway as long as it does not obstruct access that is legally in place.

Any planning application for a driveway for Mr Hussain’s house would be assessed on its own merits.