Growers with telephone wires running over their land are set for a cash boost after the NFU and CLA secured a deal with Energis, now owned by Cable & Wireless.
The new arrangement, which backdates to 2004, sees growers and farmers receiving an extra three pence for every metre of fibre optic cable they have across their fields from 2005.
The five-year deal will also rise by one pence every year until 2009, when the rate will stand at 39.5p per metre.
NFU rural surveyor Robert Sheasby said that the agreement was ‘satisfactory to all concerned’ and ensured a fair price is paid to farmers for the rights over their land.
Oliver Harwood, chief surveyor at the CLA, added: “Most of the Energis network is carried out on overhead electricity apparatus, and the new rates will be paid in addition to existing electricity wayleave payments where optic fibres are attached and are in use for commercial purposes.”
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