Sir, – I have been moved to write my first letter to the D&S.

From Middleham, I run an international business entirely dependent on broadband. The ‘update’ from NYnet last week (D&S letters, Aug 22)contradicts the actual experience of most people in our community.

So the target for superfast broadband is end of November? We had always been told ‘for the Tour’, albeit verbally in Richmondshire District Council roadshows, written material always being suspiciously absent.

There certainly is something wrong at the Leyburn exchange. Four different BT engineers told me as such while my work lines were out for two whole weeks (my phones come down the broadband).

At that time eight other nearby businesses were experiencing problems. Only business lines were hit that first time.

Then the same ‘non-issue’ took down the phone and broadband of myself and 20 or so others, including phone only consumer lines, for another week. My BT Business team again attributed it to Leyburn Exchange, stating it is overloaded and that no one had thought of the need to change all the cabling from there to Middleham.

Like Mrs Waudby, and everyone I have checked with no information or ‘publicity’ has been received by myself – perhaps because it would include inconvenient start dates that have already passed.

Of course, NYnet is not to blame for the appalling state of the BT system. New applications for phone lines in Middleham face lengthy delays. BT relies on people thinking their bad situation is unique, but forget that in smaller communities people talk – and visit Middleham’s long-suffering town clerk.

Neither is NYnet to blame that Richmondshire District Council likes making announcements more than delivering services.

Meanwhile, my business has worse service provision than six years ago. I will let your readers know on December 1 whether the situation has improved.

Dr MIKE SWEETING

Middleham.