WN internet link withdrawn without warning
THE plug has been pulled on a community Internet service offering crucial support to a number of businesses in West Norfolk.
On Wednesday subscribers to West Norfolk Community Broadband (WNCB) saw their Internet and email links withdrawn after the equipment used to provide the service was seized by telecommunications group Crimson Tide.
The Kent-based firm was acting on behalf of Darwen Leasing Ltd, which purchased the assets and goodwill of Dersingham-based Newman Concepts Ltd – the former WNCB operator – after it went into administration.
But the sudden cut in service has created shock waves in the north of the region, where hundreds of businesses and individuals rely on the service.
Chris Rossiter, of Dersingham-based garage Rossiters, said: "This is a critical service for a lot of people. A lot of our business is Internet-based mail order. A lot of information we access all day is on the Internet.
"This is a major hassle. If they had given us a ten-day notice period then we could have done something, but we will not be connected before Christmas."
Hunstanton Newsletter editor Elaine Bird added: "An awful lot of people signed up to it. I had gone with them as they were a local company and I believe in supporting local ventures.
"It has been devastating. I have a lot of material submitted to me so when something like this happens it is very difficult."
Mark Harriman, who relies on the service to run two websites, told the Lynn News: "The whole matter has been abysmally handled with no consideration for customer service.
"Without any public consideration Crimson Tide has come in and seized the service. It was a community broadband service but they have taken the community out of the broadband."
A letter sent to service users on Monday afternoon by Crimson Tide revealed Darwen Leasing purchased the assets and goodwill from the administrator of Newman Concepts on Friday, October 26.
The letter states: "We are writing to advise you that due to circumstances beyond our control, the current service will be disconnected on Wednesday, December 19."
It recommended that any standing order in place for WNCB services was cancelled with immediate effect.
Negotiations are now under way in the hope of having a new service in place as soon as possible.
Will Newman, of Newman Concepts Ltd, said: "We are very sorry for what has happened, it is certainly not what we had hoped for but it is out of our hands. We would have endeavoured to give more notice, but we could not control it."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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