Fibre Optic Works – Taking place in rural parts of the wards of Whitland, Llanboidy and other surrounding wards over the next few months.

Following a site visit to explore the most immediate proposed route from Llanfallteg to Llanboidy myself and Councillor Dorian Phillips of Llanboidy ward were able to ask a number of questions. There are three fibre optic cables to be buried and the third one is a back up cable for the future and is unlikely to be needed for many years. They will be buried to a depth of 1.3 metres. The
cabling joins up with those under the Irish sea and one at Newgale.

IF there is a highway verge the cables will go under that and it will not be necessary to dig into the road. There is a MOLE drilling device that goes underground for lengths of up to 350 metres and takes the cable and warning tape with it. Periodically there will be an inspection chamber and a joint which will be a quality manhole type construction.

IF there is no highway verge and just very high embankments then the cable will have to go under the road itself. The road will not have to be dug extensively as the MOLE will do the work underground subject to avoiding existing services. (water pipes and electricity). Again, periodically a manhole will be created. IF there is a pothole in the road the contractors will make use of this
wherever possible rather than dig up good road surfaces. The MOLE will access through the pothole and it will be made good afterwards.

There are many water culverts alongside rural verges and as part of the works these will be cleared and put in better order. The county council will trim the verges to assist the works for the fibre optic company. I have stressed the importance of culverts and water courses and got assurance that maintaining them in future will not impact the adjacent cables.

Any formal road closure will be very brief and during the majority of the works the road be open to single lane traffic. The works will move along almost daily as fast as the MOLE can drill. The engine will need to be running for this device (a resident had already mentioned contractors leaving the vehicle engines on)

Traffic lights may have to be some distance apart at various points as the work progresses fairly quickly and there are bends and limited passing places. Residents in the vicinity of the ongoing works will receive a letter.

Who is paying? I am of the understanding it is privately funded and with the support of government to facilitate the works.

The project manager is willing to take calls from residents if required although I have suggested keeping in touch through the Henllanfallteg Whats App Group. for any crisis. They have already laid 40 km through Pembrokeshire without major disruption even to farm vehicles.

Here is a link to the route map.

I hope that the above is accurately conveyed and I will send updates regularly.