Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
This website has been partly paid for from the funds made available to every MP to assist them in communicating with and representing their constituents.
Printed and hosted by Pipex Communications UK Ltd, Humber Buildings, Humber Rd, Beeston, Notts, NG9 2ET. Published and promoted by Norman Baker MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA. The views expressed are those of Norman Baker, not of the service provider.
2003 (and previous) press releases
BT Hangs Up on Newick Residents
Norman Baker has asked BT to step up their game following what he terms a "sluggish and inadequate response" to a major fault in the Newick area that is leaving approximately 200 residents without a telephone service for the better part of two weeks.
BT was unaware of the major cabling fault, reported to Norman Baker by a constituent last week, until alerted to it by the public. The severity of this structural fault means that affected landline services to part of the Newick area will remain out of action until at least 29th September.
BT has not organised any interim provisions for those affected, other than offering a call diversion service to another number.
Speaking about the situation Norman Baker says:
"I am very concerned that such a large number of my constituents are having to go without telephone services for such an extended period. A telephone service is not a luxury and it is unacceptable that 200 of my constituents have to cope without for as long as two weeks. For many people, particularly the less mobile and those who live alone, telephones are a vital means of contacting others for help. BT's insufficient response to this fault is leaving people in a position where they are potentially unable to contact their family or even the emergency services.
"More needs to be done to help people who do not own a mobile phone. BT should not use the fact that private mobile phone ownership is widespread as an excuse to provide a lesser standard of service to its customers in this type of situation. I am calling for BT to act on three counts. First, repair work must be speeded up such that normal service is resumed more quickly than is currently planned - ten days is an unacceptably long delay. Second, vulnerable people should be provided mobile telephones in the interim. Finally, BT should announce clearly state their intentions with regards appropriately compensating those inconvenienced"