Panic fuel buying leaves pumps dry (From Gazette Series)

Panic fuel buying leaves pumps dry

AN ELDERLY couple from Wotton have been cut off from family and friends for five weeks because BT has failed to repair their telephone line.

Douglas and Joan Barker, both in their late eighties, have been without a telephone connection since the middle of August, causing distress to them and their family.

Mr Barker, aged 87, said: "The line started stuttering on August 22 and by the Monday it was gone completely.

"We have received several letters but no-one has done anything."

The Barkers have lived in Tabernacle Road in Wotton for 25 years and claim to have had the same phone number for decades but the recent problem has caused them and their family nothing but stress and worry.

Mr Barker said: "We have had no phone line or email for five weeks. Our family are all over the place and we can't contact any of them."

The couple's granddaughter, Hayley Rossiter, rang the Gazette from Southampton to express her dismay at the situation.

She said: "The first we knew about it was we couldn't get hold of them, which naturally worried us.

"It's a lifeline for them and it's disgusting that nothing has been done." The family have become so frustrated with the situation that they have lent the couple a mobile phone to tide them over.

BT say they have received seven reports of phone line problems in the Tabernacle Road area of Wotton during the last four or five weeks but blame a complication in repairs for the severe delay.

BT spokesman Jason Mann said: "We of course have to apologise for the delay in the repair work. This has proved a very complicated repair.

"It has involved the use of three-way traffic lights because of the road works.

"We have had to clear underground ducting and replace 52 foot of underground cable.

"A further complication has been that it is on a busy road so we have faced restrictions as to when we can use the three-way traffic lights."

BT have, however, promised to resolve the situation by the end of this weekend. Mr Mann said: "We hope to restart the service by the end of the week."

But Mr Barker remains sceptical. "They've been saying that for weeks," he said, "we'll see."