by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
An underground cable could be fitted beneath a Dorset river to improve local broadband services.
Wessex Internet wants to drill horizontally under the River Frome close to the West Stafford bypass.
The company says it will use horizontal drilling technques to reach under the riverbed to a minimum depth of 2 metres with both entry and exit points a minimum of 8 metres away from the riverbanks taking it outside the Site of Special Scientific Interest designation SSSI.
The company is applying for a Permit for Works via the Environment Agency and asking Dorset Council for planning consent.
A 32mm green ducting with armoured fibre optic cabling inside will be used to reach across the riverbed from below.
Public comments on the application, remain open until until mid-December.
The full details can be seen on the Dorset Council website using the reference, provided (P/PAEL/2025/06802)
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