DOZENS of telephone poles have been erected without warning along one of the most scenic roads in North Yorkshire, to the dismay of local residents who say their view has been spoiled.

The 22 poles have been put up along Hurgill Road, between Marske and Richmond, towards the Feldom Ranges, by BT to provide telecommunications to a remote Ministry of Defence outpost.

The road is known for having a spectacular view across Wensleydale and many people drive along the route simply for the scenery.

Because the posts are providing a service BT does not have to request planning permission although investigations are currently being carried out to establish whether four of the poles might be within the territory of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which would require planning permission.

Ashley Barker, who lives at Low Applegarth, near the site of the poles, said he could not believe his eyes when the posts were first put up three weeks ago.

He said: “Some years ago BT did a lot of work up here to put cables underground but three weeks ago they came and put up these poles along the side of the road that looks out towards Wensleydale.

“I wrote to BT as they had put notices up asking for comments and got a reply saying it would be more expensive to dig wires underground than it is to string it up on poles.

“My argument is that if they were to put the poles along the other side of the road it would be fine, because that way they would back on to a patch of woodland where they would not be disturbing the view.

“Everyone is talking about it round here and no one is in favour of this. It’s for one customer - if they were in the middle of a housing estate and only one house in a street wanted something and the rest did not, it would not go ahead so why do it here in the middle of the countryside and spoil one of the best views in the area?”

A spokeswoman for BT said the poles had to be erected on the opposite side of the road to the woodland because of an excess of trees and existing overhead wires, which would make cabling difficult.

She added: “‘We have currently received one complaint from a member of the public regarding the positioning of newly erected telegraph poles on Hurgill Road and have reviewed that complaint.

“However, apart from the four poles currently under discussion with the National Park, all the poles are legally sited and will remain in situ.”