A SERIES of planning applications have been submitted aimed at improving broadband access in two Somerset towns.

Plans for three telecommunications cabinets have been submitted to Mendip District Council on behalf of the Truespeed company.

The plans are for locations in Street and in Shepton Mallet.

In Street, the cabinet would be sited outside the Wessex Hotel, in the High Street, which the applications says is a suitable location.

"We need to erect a cabinet to house the distribution equipment and power the broadband distribution for the Street area," it says.

"A central location within the area in public ownership is the idea location.

"We look for a location that does not hinder the local community.

"This location has been chosen as it clear of any vehicular movement, does not affect pedestrian flow."

It added that there are 'very few locations in this area that provide enough space for the cabinet and do not affect the visual impact of the city'.

"This also has good access to the existing Openreach network and it will allow Truespeed to utilise the existing Openreach duct network which will reduce the amount of excavation we would have to do to service the area," it adds.

In Shepton Mallet, one cabinet would be situated in the Draycott Road area, serving the Hillmead area, with another at the junction of St Peters Road and Bowlish Lane, serving the Bowlish area.

The applications cite the same reasoning as that for Street.

For more information, and to comment on the applications, log on to www.mendip.gov.uk/planningandbuilding, references 2021/2104/TEL (Street), 2021/2103/TEL (Draycott Road) and 2021/2101/TEL (St Peters Road).