World's End phones still cut off a month after storms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-26622084

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A village in Denbighshire is still without phone lines or internet connection more than a month after storms cut them off.

Homes at World's End in the Eglwyseg Valley, near Llangollen, have been disconnected since winds up to 100mph brought down cables on 12 February.

One resident said villagers felt they had been "forgotten" and the lack of communication was damaging business.

BT apologised for the delay in repair, blaming extensive damage to lines.

Winds of up to 100mph brought down phone lines and and power cables in the area during storms which battered much of Britain.

But while electricity was restored within five days, residents say they have no firm date for when their phone lines will be reconnected.

Customers unhappy

Portia Kennaway, who runs six businesses including two farms and a caravan site, says with mobile signals very poor they have been left with little means of communication.

Without a landline or internet connection, she says she has had to rely on her staff to check business emails at their homes outside the affected area.

This has led to delays in getting back to people, leaving some customers unhappy.

"It's just depressing, nobody can get hold of us and they think we are avoiding them," she said.

"People will just not believe that we haven't had phone lines for a month."

Ms Kennaway, who pays £3,600 a year in line rental to BT for phones for her home and businesses, said the firm should do more to help.

"We feel desperately forgotten and lonely. We are totally powerless and it's very depressing," she said.

"We are trying to run businesses and we are being crippled."

A BT spokesman said: "We are sorry for the delay. The bad weather last month did cause extensive local damage to some of our overhead lines and poles in the area.

"We're having to replace two poles and about 180m of line. Specialist equipment is needed for that.

"We expect to carry out the work next week, but before if possible."