Petition launched as Broseley residents angry over lack of phone signal

Scores of people living in the town have said they have been without any signal for more than two months.

Those who used the EE network, which covers T-mobile and Orange, have complained to the company, which claimed the issue was down to issues with a phone mast.

Some 350 people signed the petition in just two weeks, and it has now been sent off to EE demanding action.

Helen Vickers, from the The Butcher's Bar, in Broseley, said: "We have had trouble for two months now.

"We've been told there's an issue with a mast but we're paying good money for the a service and cannot get a signal.

"It's having a huge impact on residents and businesses in the area and everyone we've spoken to have been relieved to hear it's not just them."

Matthew James, of Stentons Estate Agents, said: "We are a small business operating on the High Street.

"We both sell and rent properties so have to be able to react quickly to out of office hours messages, on the letting side of the business especially.

"The office phone we use for additional calls and out of office calls is provided through Orange but the reception is absolutely awful.

"It's that bad we have even gone through a stage of not redirecting the calls to this particular phone because they are being missed and messages are coming through up to a day late."

Caroline Nicholls, of G L Interiors Ltd, said: "We have little or no service at our home and business address, which is appalling and has a detrimental effect when you are trying to run a small business.

"On top of this we now have little or no service in the surrounding areas to Broseley."

Residents also said the poor service was causing major problems.

Adrian Baker, of Sherlock Hoy Close, said: "The signal is very hit and miss and for probably 90 per cent of the day I have no signal on either of my two phones.

"I believe the problem is down to a transmitter change-over in Ironbridge.

"A friend of mine who lives in the same estate is also experiencing difficulties, whereas another friend who lives two minutes walk away has had no problems at all."

Hayley Jones said she had recently signed a new a new contract with EE and wished she had not.

Ian Sturdy said: "I took out a new contract from the Carphone Warehouse some two months ago, costing £42 a month.

"I have been with Orange some 13 years since moving to Broseley because it was the only good signal in the area at the time.

"Since I took out the new contract the signal in the area has all but disappeared.

"I contacted Orange who said they had decommissioned a transmitter in the area.

"My problem is if I get business calls when I am in the village I rarely receive it.

"I phoned Orange again about a month later and was told I could cancel my contract for £800, as they would not cancel it for free."

Emma Smith said: "The service in Broseley has become so inconvenient.

"I've been without a signal for eight weeks. We rely on our mobiles 100 per cent and I think it's unacceptable."

Kevin Byrne said he had not had a full signal for two months.

He said: "I have contacted Orange and have had no joy at all.

"I have teenage kids and need to keep in contact with them at all times but I've not been able to."

EE was unavailable for comment.