Phone fault hits Welsh magazine

Welsh-affairs magazine Cambria was founded eight years ago

Production of a Welsh affairs magazine has been hit as its offices have been without phones for the past two months.

The last issue of Carmarthenshire-based bi-monthly Cambria was scrapped as its land lines were down due to a fault.

Editor Henry Jones-Davies said it was 'crazy' that BT had taken so long to repair the problem at Nantgaredig.

The phone company said the fault was underground and it needed permission for temporary traffic lights so workers could reach the line under a road.

Mr Jones-Davies claimed unreliable and poor communications was a problem facing rural businesses in Wales.

Cambria, which was founded eight years ago, had subscribers in 38 different countries around the world.

"Communications are everything for modern businesses and the politicians go on and on about how Wales is going to depend on a knowledge-based economy with people running their businesses from home," he said.

"It's not like we are in the middle of nowhere. We are five miles outside of Carmarthen. It's just crazy."

The repair has proved quite complex - to reach the fault we will have to use a manhole which is on a busy road BT spokesman

He said that with the telephone lines out of action and the internet connection also affected it had played havoc with the magazine's deadlines, advertising revenue and subscriptions.

The magazine's office phones were diverted to a mobile.

The September/October issue was scrapped and although a new edition would be out later this week, Mr Jones-Davies said it was likely to be the last of the year.

"I am aware of at least one other business in the Towy Valley that has been affected," he added.

BT said it had apologised for the problem and admitted it had taken a long time to tackle.

A spokesman said: "The repair has proved quite complex - to reach the fault we will have to use a manhole which is on a busy road."

He said the company had now received permission to erect temporary traffic lights and the work was schedule to take place between 26-28 October.