Elderly pensioners are cut off with no internet or phone after bin lorry flattens telegraph pole
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Elderly residents fear their communications could be cut off after a garbage truck destroyed a telegraph pole, knocking out internet and landline services.
Around eight properties in the cul-de-sac on the Isle of Wight are understood to be affected by the outage.
Local resident Christine Burman described the crash as ‘ring side’ and said it should never have happened because the pole was on the pavement.
Since then, the 83-year-old man and his neighbors have been unable to access Wi-Fi or make landline calls; coverage in the area is not always reliable enough to use mobile phones.
Ms Burman said she had been unable to access live TV since the telephone pole was crushed.
The retiree said: ‘My biggest worry is not being able to communicate with anyone.
‘A friend of mine came by car because he couldn’t reach me and was worried.
‘My sister is going crazy.’
Christine Burman, 83, (pictured) was unable to access Wi-Fi or make landline calls after a nearby telegraph pole was flattened by a garbage truck
Around eight properties on the Isle of Wight cul-de-sac (pictured) are understood to be affected by the outage
Ms Burman added: ‘For example, what would I do if I fell down the stairs?’
Another resident has an emergency help button, but it only works over Wi-Fi.
Ms Burman said she contacted EE, part of BT Group, which she believed operated the mast, and was told the line was fine.
He later received a call back saying the pole needed to be replaced and an inspection needed to be done first.
This has residents worried that it could be some time before the system is repaired and they can call again.
Meanwhile, Miss Burman is forced to go to a friend’s house up the road to use the phone.
