• MEARD Street, Soho, and many other streets are under attack from noise and air pollution, courtesy of G.Network. When the streets are narrow, as in the case of Meard Street, the attack is all the greater.

Now, G.Network’s barriers proudly announce that the company is bringing along 100 per cent full fibre broadband, yet curiously they fail to mention the health hazards en route.

The company keeps quiet, paradoxically, about the intense high-volume noise that it also brings to residents, with its cutting machines for paving slabs. Such levels of noise, it has been established, are bad for both physical and mental health.

Quite rightly the workers wear noise protectors yet, in some cases, residents are virtually as close to the noise but G.Network offers them no such protection.

It also keeps quiet about the air pollution dangers caused by the resultant silica and dust (noted by the Health and Safety Executive).

Of course, all these hazards eventually have damaging effects on the NHS. I doubt if the corporate owners behind G.Network are so impoverished that, if they cared about the public, they would be unable to introduce some silencers, noise barriers, and dust sheetings to reduce the health hazards. Maybe they could also have developed some quiet cutting equipment (lasers come to mind).

However desirable the end of 100 per cent full fibre broadband – I may have settled for carrier pigeons – there needs to be regard for the means deployed to secure that end. With G.Network it seems that the sole concern is the end which, I guess, is to maximise profits.

Sadly the government gives such companies a free hand to do more or less whatever they want; and Westminster City Council, until May under Conservative control, showed no interest.

It all reminds me of a very recent prime minister announcing “growth, growth, growth”. And see where that got us.

PETER CAVE, W1