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CLA and NFU win landmark agreement for prior notice for works with Openreach The CLA and the NFU today (Tuesday, March 2) completed lengthy negotiations with BT's local access network delivery division, Openreach which will benefit farmers and landowners. The work has seen the completion of a landmark memorandum of understanding which will for the first time give certainty to CLA and NFU members working with Openreach on their land. As part of the new agreement, Openreach has agreed to contact landowners before work takes place on their land, as well as follow the Countryside Code, in a bid to cultivate better relations with those who have equipment on their property.
CLA President William Worsley and NFU Vice-President Gwyn Jones signed the agreement, which comes into force today (Tuesday, March 2).
CLA President William Worsley said: "This is a ground-breaking agreement because it represents a commitment from BT and farming organisations to work together on the issues arising from Openreach apparatus on private land in the countryside.
"We have worked long and hard with Openreach staff to deliver what we believe will be a better understanding between Openreach contractors and our members."
Mr Jones said: "This new agreement goes some way to recognising the impact Openreach apparatus has on our members' land and their ability to farm it.
"The new memorandum of understanding is available for all members and will, for the first time, give certainty about what will happen in a number of circumstances. These could include whether there is a need for trees to be worked on, how access will be taken, or on the depth at which cables will be found. For the first time, this has been recorded for the benefit of all members."
Bob Downes, Openreach Director said: "We value the co-operation that we receive from farmers and landowners across the UK; our telecommunications network forms an essential part of the UK's national infrastructure, and is especially important for those in rural communities.
"We also recognise our responsibility to conduct work on the network in a manner that respects the countryside and rural livelihoods. Openreach welcomes the CLA and NFU's co-operation in formulating an updated and appropriate framework for wayleaves and we are pleased to sign up to this framework to ensure our engineers and contractors conduct necessary work in a spirit of mutual respect with landowners."
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