Firms cut off by phone clanger

Kenyon Specialist Coating sales manager Christine Blake and Alan Ashton, from SK Electronics say their businesses are suffering

A HOST of Oldham businesses are without vital phone and internet lines following a botch up involving Metrolink and BT.

Furious firms around Regent Street say they stand to lose customers and thousands of pounds after Metrolink works at Mumps wiped out communication on Monday.

BT confirmed 15 faults had been reported but was expecting the number to rise.

Transport for Greater Manchester said BT was to blame after giving the all-clear to rip out a cable it said was dead — while BT claimed Metrolink contractors had accidentally hit the cable.

Zebra Money Management, which employs around 50 people, was left without the main tools of its trade, plunging its debt helpline into silence.

“It’s been horrific,” said spokesman Chris Parry. “It’s caused us a lot of grief, but we’re at the mercy of BT.

“We’ve had to send most of our staff home — there’s only so much filing you can do!

“We’ve had to post a notice on our website explaining the issue to reassure people.”

Ian Kenyon, director of Kenyon Specialist Coatings, say the knock-on effect could be huge.

“We’re a global Internet business and if customers can’t get through they will go elsewhere. We can’t get online to book our couriers to get deliveries out — it’s a nightmare.”

SK Electronics’ managing director Alan Ashton said: “They are bringing my business to its knees..

“My business is electronic manufacturing and we’re very geared up with IT

“People are having to take photographs of components and send me the pictures on my mobile — it’s ridiculous.”

A Transport for Greater Manchester spokesperson said today: “Metrolink contractors identified a number of cables and had them assessed by BT before any work was carried out.

BT confirmed the cable in question was no longer live and it was taken out.

Repair work is expected to be completed today



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