BRASSED off broadband users in and around Heriot should be logging on again following engineering work by BT.

Engineers shortened a connecting cable to the local exchange last week in a bid to get villagers back online.

More than a dozen properties along the B709 and up the Carcant valley, around a mile from the hamlet, have been left with lame line speeds following work on the Borders Railway.

It emerged that cable re-routing by BT in November to accommodate the new tracks was to blame.

Over the past two months several rural businesses which rely on emails and website enquiries have struggled with one being completely cut off.

John Williams from Heriot Community Council told us: “Depending on how far you are from the exchange it gets slower and slower with one lady who runs her sheepdog business towards the top of the valley not being able to connect at all.

“People started to have problems in November and nothing has improved since then - you are left looking at a screen for an age as your computer tries to connect.

“People have been complaining to BT but they are a bureaucratic nightmare when you want something fixed.” Villagers had called on both MP Michael Moore and MSP Paul Wheelhouse to fight their corner.

Following investigations by BT Openreach engineers it was established that extensive new cabling from the exchange, around a new rail bridge, was creating the slower speeds.

Cable and planning teams were on the ground throughout last week attempting to shorten the cable by more than half a mile.

And it is hoped that broadband speeds will return over the coming days.

A spokeswoman for BT told us: “Openreach has been carrying out essential work to reroute telecommunications infrastructure near Heriot to accommodate the Borders Railway project.

“Part of the existing network had to be rerouted round a new rail bridge and this lengthened the route of the cable, leading to a reduction in broadband speed to some outlying premises.

“Work to reduce the cable length by around 900 meters was completed and we’re carrying out further investigations to establish to what degree this has helped improve these speeds.” Testing will continue on the new cable this week.

But if line speeds remain slow for some households they are urged to contact their broadband provider.

The BT spokeswoman added: “We are very sorry for the difficulties being experienced locally. It is extremely important that customers should continue to report any ongoing problems to their service providers, who will liaise with Openreach.”