Cut-off residents tired of BT's inaction (From Gazette Series)

Cut-off residents tired of BT's inaction

ANGRY residents of Wotton-under-Edge are still without telephone lines almost seven weeks since they lost connection.

Residents of Tabernacle Road say they have had enough and are growing tired of BT's excuses for delaying the necessary repair work.

Joan and Douglas Barker, an elderly couple who had been struggling with no telephone line since August 22, first alerted the Gazette to the situation three weeks ago.

BT promised that the repair work would be completed as soon as possible but blamed traffic in Wotton and the need for traffic lights for the delay.

Mr Barker said: "We've only had two letters from them the whole time this has been going on.

"It's all getting very distressing for us and we've just got to put up with it."

Despite BT's countless guarantees of repair work, residents of Tabernacle Road are still without their telephone lines.

Chris Honeyborne has been disconnected for almost two months, he said: "I just wonder how long the BT chairman would have his line disconnected for.

"We are just ordinary people being pushed aside.

"It has caused a huge inconvenience."

Homeowner Kathleen Ford said: "It's frustrating when you pass the road and there doesn't seem to be anything going on.

"We have had to use mobiles but now we are concerned about the cost. They are so expensive."

BT spokesman Jason Mann said: "This has proved an exceptional case.

"As I said last week we were looking at a solution that wouldn't involve traffic lights but that is now not possible.

"We do need to use three-way traffic lights so we have been liasing with the Highways Agency because we need their permission.

"We have managed to arrange for the work to completed on October 11.

"If all goes well the work should be completed by the 12th but we will have to see if there are any problems when the work is started.

"We completely understand the frustration our customers are experiencing and we apologise. This hasn't been a straight forward case."