A BUSINESSMAN is running his IT firm from his local pub after being left without a landline phone or internet service for three weeks – in a village with a poor mobile phone signal.

Barry Carlino, who runs an IT business from his home in Penterry, near St Arvans, has had no internet or telephone service since February 12.

Mr Carlino, of Penterry Lane, was told by his service provider TalkTalk that the problem arose when BT Openreach engineers damaged several cables while carrying out work in the area.

Although part of the BT Group, Openreach is a separate business which owns and runs the UK’s largest copper and fibre network.

He understands that the repair work is being held up because engineers are waiting for permission from Monmouthshire council to use temporary traffic lights in order to repair the fault and that no date for a permanent fix has been given.

He said the community relies heavily on the use of landlines because mobile phone signal coverage is so poor and is forced to use the Wi-Fi at the nearby public house, The Piercefield, to run his business.

“As well as people like me who are trying to keep a business going with most of our clients overseas, we have vulnerable retired people for whom phone and broadband is a vital link to the outside world, young mothers for whom a working landline provides peace of mind, and of course everybody who just wants to talk, surf, shop and do their banking securely.”

“Unfortunately, we feel that all parties are failing to take the matter seriously and are happy to blame someone else. Service providers are blaming BT Openreach , who are then blaming the local council for not allowing them to install traffic lights to complete the work.”

“My wife and I are therefore left worrying how my dad, who is in his 80s and not in the best of health, would be able to get hold of us in an emergency, while our elderly neighbours have to hope that we don’t get a cold snap which will mean that they are completely isolated.”

Monmouth MP David Davies, who was contacted by Mr Carlino, said: “Residents would be better off using two tin cans and a piece of string to communicate.

“We live in the 21st century digital era and for residents in St Arvans to be left without any effective means of communication for three weeks and counting is not good enough.”

Monmouthshire council said it has not received any form of communication or notice from BT Openreach regarding the situation at Penterry Lane.

A TalkTalk spokesman said:“We are very sorry that Mr Carlino is experiencing problems with his service because of damaged cables in the Chepstow area. We are working with BT Openreach, which carries out repairs on our behalf, and hope to fix the fault soon.”

The Argus contacted BT Openreach for comment, however no comment was available before going to print.