Pensioner in Eastleigh fears health after 32-foot internet mast installed outside her home

A pensioner in Eastleigh, Hampshire, woke last September to the sight of a 32-foot telecommunications mast erected outside her home without warning. Ms Raye, 67, said the pole has blighted her views and sparked health concerns after a pungent odour began emanating from the structure.

The mast was installed by Toob Full-Fibre Broadband on Park Road as part of a wider network expansion that the company says has drawn strong local support and involved investments of more than £7 million, reaching more than 17,000 premises. Ms Raye said she would have preferred underground cables and questioned why such large infrastructure could not be buried rather than installed above ground. She also expressed concerns about the pole’s proximity to her property, saying she had tried to contact Toob about underground solutions nearby.

Toob says it carefully plans deployments to minimize disruption, using existing ducts where possible, and acknowledges that new poles are sometimes required. The company notes there are about four million telegraph poles across the UK that use similar methods and that it engages with residents about poles before deployment. A spokesperson said the Chandler’s Ford-Eastleigh build has involved extensive community engagement and that if there is broad opposition to a deployment, work can be paused. In Park Road, Toob said it owns one pole and uses other existing poles along the street to serve homes.

Ms Raye described the ongoing problems caused by the pole. “I’m very sensitive for headaches and migraines,” she said, adding that she had been experiencing sleepless nights since the pole went up. She said a doctor had written a letter supporting her concerns, which she submitted to Toob, but that she heard nothing back. She described the odor as “fuel-like,” “pungent” and “really strong,” noting that heatwaves had intensified the smell.

A contractor was sent to mitigate the odor, and a hessian wrapping was placed around the pole. Ms Raye said the measure has not resolved the smell and that the addition makes the street look unattractive. “I’d like to know what this chemical is that’s coming out because it’s very much a fuely type thing,” she added.

The smell is not Ms Raye’s only concern. She said birds that previously nested in nearby trees have not returned this year, noting nine bird boxes she maintains have had no activity since the cables were installed. She questioned why the project could not have extended underground cables further along the road rather than erecting a above-ground pole.

In response, Toob pushed back on the notion that residents were left in the dark. The company said it “received overwhelming support for our Chandler’s Ford and Eastleigh network build,” and that the project involved more than £7 million in investment and service to over 17,000 premises. It said it plans its network to minimize disruption and, where possible, uses existing networks and ducts. It added that while some new telegraph poles are necessary, the deployment is conducted with resident engagement and feedback in mind. The company cited its ongoing dialogue with Ms Raye, noting that the last communication regarding the pole’s location occurred on 23 October 2024 and that concerns were addressed. It also said it received further communication from Ms Raye on 26 June 2025 and subsequently deemed the pole safe following a thorough inspection. The firm urged Ms Raye to contact them directly if she wished to discuss the matter further, emphasizing its local-focus and commitment to community engagement.

Despite the company’s assurances, Ms Raye and other residents say the pole remains a disruptive presence in their neighborhood, highlighting the broader tension between infrastructure upgrades and neighborhood quality of life as rural-urban networks expand across the country.