HUNDREDS of people are stranded without phone and internet following a dispute between their media server and a property developer.

More than 200 people in Dartford are living without Virgin Media’s phone, broadband and TV services due to a fault in one of the server’s control cabinets.

The cabinets, which are located in building contractor P.J. Mullan and Sons’ property in King Edward Avenue, cannot be repaired by Virgin technicians due to health and safety regulations issued by the contractor.

Robin Golding, one of the residents affected by the situation in Kingsridge Gardens, told News Shopper he is worried about not being able to phone emergency numbers whilst he is recovering from his triple heart bypass.

The 62-year old, who also suffers from multiple sclerosis, said: “I’ve been given a lifeline since my heart surgery but it’s useless without a phone.

“On Saturday I fell over in the kitchen and was on the floor for half an hour.

“If my lifeline had worked, I could have pressed it.

“It scares me, of course it does.”

Virgin Media told News Shopper their technicians are trying to gain access to one of the cabinets to undertake repair work but are being denied access by Mr Mullan.

The server has threatened court action against the building contractor if he does not accept within 28 days the wayleave they offered him on July 28.

A spokesperson said: “We are desperate to restore service to our customers and Mr Mullan has left us with no option than to exercise our statutory rights under the Telecoms Code.

"We should not have to go to these lengths, but we will do whatever is necessary to provide our customers with the service they have value and rely on.

“We are only sorry that Mr Mullan is using our customers for financial leverage in this way, with no regard for them or their families' needs. "

Paul Mullan told News Shopper he has been negotiating with Virgin for the last 18 months to remove their control cabinets from his property.

He says that in April the media server removed one but left the other two.

Despite Virgin sending over health and safety documents, Mr Mullan says he needs Virgin’s technicians to have a health and safety induction at his property, which they are yet to comply with.

He said: “Virgin has had plenty of time to move the cabinets.

“I’ve tried my best to prevent this situation and they’re painting us out as the big bad wolf.

“They’re using bully tactics by threatening us with court proceedings but it won’t override the health and safety issues that I’ve tried to get them to complete.

“I appreciate neighbours' worries and I’m very upset that all our hard work has been undone by this.”