The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
An elderly couple have finally had their phone line restored – more than three weeks after it was brought down when a telegraph pole outside their home was struck.
It is the second instance in less than a year – last time it took two months to restore the connection to William and Jackie Hall’s home.
The pensioners, of Main Road, Hop Pole, say they have run up large mobile phone bills while they have been left with no landline.
The most recent collision with the telegraph pole happened on July 2, leaving it lurching over.
William (71), who uses a walking aid, said: “I came outside and saw the phone line across the main road.
“Whoever hit the pole – and it must have been a big vehicle – just left the line flapping about in the road. It could have caused a serious accident to a motorcyclist.
“I gathered up the line and tied it to a pole across the road with cable ties.”
He added: “The same thing happened last September – it took two months to repair then.
“When you get old, you don’t need this.”
The Halls reported the latest incident to BT immediately and staff visited and took photographs. But a subsequent lack of action led to the Halls making about ten calls to BT to chase up the situation.
When still no progress was apparent, Mrs Hall, who used to run her own greeting card company, lost patience and turned to South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes for help.
BT told Mr Hayes that the pole would be repaired or replaced on July 25, but it was done three days earlier.
