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Virgin Media has promised to fix the pavements it is digging up while installing fibre broadband in Caerphilly – but could they do more?

For the last several months the company has been digging up roads and pavements as part of a scheme to expand its network to a further 11,000 homes and businesses.

The company claims its work will bring broadband speeds that are 13 times faster than the local average. Great.

However, its work has been criticised on social media for damaging pavement sections designed to help the visually impaired cross the road.

In a statement to Caerphilly Observer, Virgin Media apologised for any inconvenience caused and promised to repair them.

It said: “The condition of roads and pathways has been monitored throughout the build and we will work closely with the council to ensure that any corrective works are completed in accordance with the local council’s guidance.”

However, why can’t utility companies that dig up pavements repair them fully instead of ‘patching’ them up? Wouldn’t it make the streets look tidier and help local taxpayers with the eventual cost of renewing them?

Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, utility companies are only required to reinstate what they dig up and local authorities cannot force them to make full repairs.

A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesman said: “Following the completion of the reinstatement, the Highway Authority [the council] will inspect the area of works and defect it – if required. This will be charged to the relevant utility, at no additional cost to the council.

“Under the current legislation, the Highway Authority cannot demand gin Media or any other Statutory Undertaker to replace full footway widths, whilst laying their apparatus in trenches. I appreciate that this is sometimes frustrating from a public perspective, but that is the framework we are working within.”

We really want to keep an eye on whether Virgin Media sticks to its promises. Let us know below if they’ve replaced pavements near you correctly.