A KELTY couple have hit out after a telegraph pole was put up outside their window without any consultation.

Pensioners Charles and June Ward say the massive structure went up this week and have vowed to fight to get it moved from outside their home in Back Road.

Mrs Ward believes a more suitable place could be found for the pole.

"It is sitting there – it is an absolute eye sore and the thing is we pay over £2,000 to Fife Council for council tax and we get to look at that monstrosity.

"It is about 30 feet in the air. It is right in front of my window and it doesn't need to be there. I cannot concentrate on the television as all I see is that silly pole."

Openreach have put up the structure as part of their ongoing commitment to provide broadband to residents in the village. However Mrs Ward said the pole does not need to be in front of their home.

"My line is under the ground and this is to accommodate somebody else," she added. "Our line has been under the ground for years so that is not benefitting me. It is for someone else.

"I don't see why they can't just move it. It is right in front of the window. It doesn't need to be there."

Mr Ward added: "We are not happy with it. We are now looking onto a big pole. We didn't get any notification. They just came along and done it. They seem to be free to do what they want."

An Openreach spokesperson said they were building a new ultrafast broadband network in Kelty to give local people access to gigabit-capable broadband that will meet all their internet needs into the future.

“It’s one of 300 locations across Scotland where we’re investing hundreds of millions of pounds in full fibre, and we’ve just announced plans to upgrade Dunfermline, Dalgety Bay, Newmills and New Oakley as well," said the spokesperson.

“Wherever we can, we use our existing duct-and-pole network to avoid digging and disruption for residents. In this case though, to reach local homes and meet demand, we needed to put up a new pole on the pavement between two properties.

“We looked at all the options and this was the only viable way to provide full fibre broadband to those residents.

“Network providers have a right to install telecoms infrastructure on public land, and there’s no requirement to inform residents in advance.

"However, we give local authorities 28 days’ notice, and we liaise with them if they raise any concerns. We made Fife Council aware of our plans and waited 28 days before we put up the pole."