BT ‘lifelines’ cut off in faulty-cable drama

PENSIONERS were left flummoxed after their phone lines were cut off — and some reconnected with the wrong numbers.

Jean Hanesworth (77), from Greenfield, says many of the 175 people affected were elderly and needed BT phonelines as “lifelines”.

She had been without a phone since May 25 but when she was reconnected days later, it wasn’t to her original phone number - so she still couldn’t be contacted.

Instead Mrs Hanesworth, from Shaw Street, was getting calls for a woman in Kinders Lane.

Seventeen residents in Chew Vale sheltered accommodation had no landlines for eight days but Housing 21 provided mobile phones for those cut off.

BT said they had to repair a section of faulty cable in Carr Lane because a lot of water had got into it. They also found underground blockages which had to be cleared before work could begin.

Mrs Hanesworth was told the phones were being checked on Sunday but by Wednesday she was still waiting.

“A lot of the people on Chew Vale are elderly — some in their 90s. The phone is a lifeline to them.

A BT spokeswoman said the fault was reported on May 28 and engineers went out on May 29. Customers were reconnected on June 1 and 2.

Since intervention by the Chronicle, the phonelines all appear to be working.


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