But unfortunately for people in Salthouse, near Holt, a worker’s blunder has left them without internet or being able to make phone calls.
And now the error has forced shops to shut and potentially lose hundreds of pounds in takings.
A BT cable was cut by a spade being driven into the ground during the work on Tuesday (August 12), which locals say was being carried out under the direction of Salthouse Parish Council.
The shallow cable that was cut during works to replace wooden bollards on the Salthosue village green (Image: Owen Sennitt)
It has left Cookies Crab Shack and the Salthouse village shop without any connectivity, forcing the shop to close for much of the day and leaving Cookies’ owner unable to order more fresh fish and seafood.
Cookies Crab Shack in Salthouse (Image: Owen Sennitt)
Other people living in the vicinity have also lost internet.
Preliminary repair work is expected to take place today (Friday, August 15) but people have been told it could take until next Tuesday (August 19) before they are back online.
Peter McKnespiey, who runs Cookies Crab Shack with his wife Susan (Image: Owen Sennitt)
Peter McKnespiey, who runs Cookies with his wife Susan, said: “It is a crazy situation, we can’t get any mobile data here so have no internet and our landline is down.
“It means we can’t make any new bookings and people looking on our website will think we are full.
“I can’t make any orders for fresh fish, which I have to do every day.
“I think we are down at least £1,500 as of Thursday. Someone needs to be liable for this.”
Signs informing customers of the Salthouse village shop that it has been forced to close due to the internet problems (Image: Owen Sennitt)
The owner of the Salthouse village shop, who did not wish to be named, said: “It has been a bit of a disaster. I’m looking at all these cars parked in the village and just thinking this is so much lost business.
“It is frustrating but it could be worse – we are not in Gaza.”
Holes were being dug on the village green when the cable was cut (Image: Owen Sennitt)
An Openreach spokesman said they will replace the cable and restore service as soon as possible.
“We’re sorry for the disruption this is causing,” he added.
A spokeswoman for Salthouse Parish Council said: “We are aware there have been problems with the internet in the village, which we have been informed are being fixed as speedily as possible.”