Concerns raised that roadworks to lay new fibre internet cables in Portsmouth are preventing social distancing

Access to pavements along several roads in the south of the city, including Albert Road, Devonshire Avenue and Goldsmith Avenue, has been 'disrupted' by ongoing work to lay new fibre cables.

Labour campaigners for the Central Southsea and Eastney and Craneswater wards expressed their fears, claiming in some areas the work has left less than one metre’s width of pavement.

Craig Withey, who campaigns for Eastney and Craneswater, said: 'The work is not allowing people to stick within social distancing guidelines, which everybody is obviously very conscious about.

'The main concern for me is where they are working in Albert Road outside Sainsbury's. People are having to queue and they have narrowed the footpath down to less than one metre. It means for anybody queuing there's no way of people getting past while maintaining that two metres.'

He added: 'I understand the work for the fibre network is a good thing. I'm not disputing that. But it's the way it's being done, it's unsafe.'

However, the company behind the work - City Fibre - has claimed it is adhering to 'social distancing guidelines.'

A spokesman for City Fibre said: 'City Fibre is laying a full fibre network in the Southsea area as part of our wider investment in Portsmouth’s digital infrastructure.

'The work in Albert Road is now complete, having finished a day ahead of an already accelerated schedule.

'As we build our full fibre networks, we endeavour to limit our time in any one area to no more than 48 hours. We also work closely with stakeholders to manage disruption and ensure all build sites adhere to health and safety standards and all staff and contractors follow social distancing guidelines.

'We also communicate with residents, businesses, and retailers as we move into new areas to ensure everyone is aware of the build, the measures being taken and the timelines involved.'

It comes after City Fibre rolled out a fibre network for Portsmouth schools, libraries, council offices and other public sector buildings at the start of this year.

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