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Coll guy: Openreach engineer to the rescue again – after islander asks him to fix school phone line

Openreach engineer Doug Craig was praised by islanders for the work he and his colleagues did to get services to the island back up and running. Image: Openreach.
Openreach engineer Doug Craig was praised by islanders for the work he and his colleagues did to get services to the island back up and running. Image: Openreach.

An Openreach engineer has come to the aid of islanders who were stuck without a school phone line.

Engineer Doug Craig was “cornered” by a worried parent while he was on the island to fix the broadband service last weekend.

Mr Craig, from Oban, and three of his colleagues were tasked to visit the island when it was discovered that 40 homes on the island were without online service.

Last month Mr Craig rescued a cat that had stowed away on one of his island trips.

School without phone line since September

A parent who was concerned the local school had been left without a school phone line, said she went to talk to the engineer when she saw him on the island’s road asking him to help.

The job on the island was not plain sailing and extra supplies had to be brought from Oban. Image: Openreach.

The parent, who did not want to be named, said: “The phone line at the school and a neighbouring property have not worked since September 30.

“I was worried that there would be an emergency and no one would be able to contact the fire, or the police, as the phone line was not working.

“I think that teachers had reported it to the council – but nothing had been done to fix it. It is difficult enough to explain to operators in call centres that we are in Arinagour, on the Isle of Coll, but having to leave the school to make the call makes it even more difficult.

“I don’t know whose job it was to pass on the fact the line was not working but it is hugely disappointing it does not seem to have been passed on to engineers.”

She continued: “So, when I saw Doug on Sunday I approached him and asked him if he could help. He and his team sorted out the problem and stayed on the island to make sure it was working.

“He said he was not aware that there was a fault on the line. It had not been passed to his team to repair, but he was happy to do the job for us.”

An Openreach spokeswoman said: “We’d like to thank people on Coll for their patience while we worked to fix their broadband.

“In the end we were able to find space on the ferry on Sunday to get specialists and equipment to the island.

Engineers on the Isle of Coll went the extra mile to help out school pupils. Image: Openreach.

“Precision testing officer Iain Davidson, from Crieff, and engineers Doug Craig and Ross Cook, both from Oban, headed over.

More cable needed

“Iain fixed a microwave link to restore broadband to a wireless street cabinet, while Ross and Doug started calling customers to make sure they were reconnected.

She continued: “During testing, they spotted that services to the school were still down. They investigated and found that a link to the school and a handful of other properties had been struck by lightning.

“They spent Sunday and Monday night on the island so they could fix the cable fault and get the school back online.

“They were joined by Matthew Blundsden, also from Oban, on Monday as more cable was needed to finish the job.

“They’ll be returning home on Tuesday.

“We’re glad everyone is now back in service and appreciate the welcome and kind words they had for our engineers.”

Argyll and Bute Council said it had reported the phone line was out of order on October 4.

 

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