Staff face cuts over phone line (From Knutsford Guardian)

Knutsford firms facing layoffs after BT phone line faults

4:10pm Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News By James Wilson

THE fallout from phone lines being out of order has continued into a third week, with at least one business saying it may have to cut staff due to lost earnings.

A damaged cable in Over Ward, coupled with water damage to an underground box on Brook Street has caused misery for the town’s businesses and residents for the past three weeks.

At one point work to repair the cable was delayed due to a car parked over the underground BT box and engineers being unable to move it.

On Tuesday BT confirmed to the Guardian that it expected the town’s services to be up and running again. But while the phone lines and broadband have been down many businesses have struggled to stay afloat.

Firms on Parkgate Industrial Estate have been affected as well as firms as far out as Ollerton.

David Godsmark from Marthall Tree Products, based on Chelford Road, told the Guardian he may have to make at least one of his staff redundant as a result of losing business.

Jean Bartley’s husband Howard is a financial advisor and runs his office from his home in Grove Park.

The disruption has affected them in a different way with BT managing to cancel their existing contract for the premium BT Infinity broadband and setting them up on a 18-month term instead.

Joanne Jackson, on Manor Park North, said she had been offered just £4.48 in compensation from her phone provider Post Office despite racking up a £65 mobile bill ringing her ill daughter in Las Vegas.

“Someone should be held responsible if not the service provider then who,” she said.

Zanos Ltd, based on Parkgate, who the Guardian spoke to last week, saw its internet connected again on Monday.

Emma Tennant, spokesperson for BT, said: “Most of the services were indeed restored, however during the course of the repair, an additional section of cable was found to be damaged.

“As a result Openreach engineers were working there on Sunday and Monday to fit a new 110-metre section.

“Most of the work is due to be completed by close of play today (Monday).” Were you affected by the BT outage? Let us know by emailing: yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk