Page 13 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • January 2008 13
It's good to talk but BT wires still Tesco invests in Red Oaks
crossed on North Swindon broadband The new village centre on Millgrove Street in Redhouse is starting to
come alive after Tesco Express opened on 7 December.
Despite promises from BT OpenReach that they would provide in-
formation and updates on work to migrate lines to a new exchange,
confusion still reigned as the switch began.
Engineering work intended to calls to Virgin but the first I knew
improve broadband services, left of the problems with the exchange
many homes with no connection at was when The Link magazine was
all after OpenReach, the company delivered."
responsible for the local network, Chris Orun, OpenReach press
began transferring users connected officer, said that all internet service
to theBlunsdonexchangetothenew providers should have been aware
Haydonexchange,onThamesdown of the work. "The ISPs have been
Drive in mid-November getting regular briefings from BT
The switch over was originally Wholesale and from OpenReach.
scheduled to begin in September, If people are having problems,
when beleaguered broadband us- they need to take it up ' ith the
ers seeking answers began sharing service provider. We can't deal with
information on a forum at www. individuals: our customers are the Nathan Neate, rear centre, with his staff, and Red Oaks headteacher Terry Peacock
thinkbroadband.com which has service providers." and children opening the new store
received hundreds of posts. However John Small of Open- The convenience store with over Primary School and would like to
OpenReach eventually published Reach has e-mailed a Link reader 2,500 products joins The Works hair thank the staff and pupils for agree-
a work programme on their web to acknowledge that they are ex- salon which opened in September. ing to join us to officially open our
site. However, the forum continued periencing technical difficulties in Three more units will be occupied new store."
to buzz as work began, with people migrating lines to the new exchange by the Spring, including Strakers "Myself and all the staff aim
reporting that they had lost broad- and no timescale to complete the Estate Agent, a dental surgery and to make Tesco a key part of the
band altogether and that work was work can be given. a fish and chip shop. Priory Vale community and look
already behind schedule. Details of the current schedule Children from Red Oaks Primary forward to welcoming customers
Among those affected was Sue can be found at www.openreach. School on the adjacent Learning from across the area."
Bibb from Oakhurst who thought con Campus were invited to cut the Plans fora pub, other retail units,
there was a fault with her equip- • Virgin have offered Sue Bibb ribbon and were presented with a business premises and apartments
ment when her broadband was compensation for a week of lost cheque for £500 by store manager will be revealed at a public meeting,
disconnected. "For a whole week, service, but not the cost of new Nathan Neate and his staff. alongside site plans for a church,
we've had no broadband. I spent equipment or an engineer call out. Abbey Meads resident Nathan healthcentreandshelteredhousing
money on a new router and £50 for Are you demanding recompense said, "we are delighted to be able scheme. This is likely to take place
a computer expert. I made countless from your ISP? to offer our support to Red Oaks in February.