To plagiarize an admin's turn of phrase; the Openreach team in NE Hants are nothing but a bunch of useless inbred, docile, incompetent breaktards 
Would it surprise you to know the OR are taking on ex-services people faster than the government can get rid of them.... ....and the local mgrs are unimpressed with them, though its probably a difficult transistion.
Actually I knew that already, but what did OR expect when employing a bunch of ex-scalybacks who are experienced in used technology from the 70's/80's?
This is not directed at you personally so please dont take it to heart but I honestly cannot understand the delay. 6 months I could have put up with but 17 is taking the proverbial.
I ain't OR (or BT for that matter), so no worry about taking it to heart. However, I do have close ties in, so know whats going on. In addition to my professional links, I've just spent 5 days in Iceland with an OR manager

Ex-services may be
useless struggling with the transision out of the forces, but are cheap, and obedient, and cheap. Oh, and cheap

Although a delay like that is more likely to things outside OR's control, based on my experiences.