A DURSLEY man has hit out at BT after a telegraph pole was erected in front of his house without any prior notice.

John Dier lives in a grade II listed building in Kingshill Lane, and his house is the subject of strict control.

Mr Dier said: "Any work done to my house is subject to planning conditions at all times. I wouldn't be able to just stick a flag-pole up but they can put up one of these poles at any time.

"To me the pole just spoils the whole facade of the house and I feel that it just isn't right."

BT installed a number of extra telegraph poles in Cam and Dursley at the end of September, including the one outside Mr Dier's home.

The process of installation without giving notice to nearby residents was defended by spokesman Jason Mann.

He said: "We do have certain rights in order to provide a service to our customers, which includes erecting poles on public highways.

"It would not be a workable system without our ability to install the poles in this way."

But Mr Dier feels that BT has not considered all the implications that could now follow.

He added: "My bone of contention is that this pole is going to have signs and posters stuck all over it in the future.

"I don't even know why they need another pole because there are three around my house, two more across the road and one more in some trees nearby. I could build a fence with the poles that are sited here."

Mr Dier has written to Stroud District Council and the Department of the Environment as well as BT to highlight his complaint but BT insisted it had little option but to do what they had done.

Mr Mann said: "Our lines must be kept above a certain height from the ground to meet with the health and safety regulations and our own operational requirements so the new pole in Kingshill Lane was put in the best place to allow us to adhere them."