EE agrees to discuss Shropshire mobile phone signal coverage
Mobile network EE has agreed to hold a meeting in Shropshire after months of campaigning by councillors and residents.
Melfyn ab Owain, of the Liberal Democrats, said councillors in Clun and Bishop's Castle have been trying to arrange a meeting to talk to a manager of EE since April.
He said: "We have been contacted by a number of residents who struggle with signal in the Clun and Bishop's Castle area.
"I spoke to my partner the other night and we were cut off 12 times while trying to have a conversation.
"Now we have finally got a gentleman to confirm he will come down and speak to residents and councillors.
Last week the Shropshire Star launched a petition over the county's mobile phone coverage which has already attracted more than 900 signatures.
The petition will be sent to the Government demanding action be taken to tackle a problem that leaves large parts of Shropshire without a signal.
Click here to vote in our Get Us Connected petition
Click here for the latest news on the Get Us Connected campaign
Mr Owain said he supported the campaign.
He said: "I think the Star's coverage of poor mobile phone signals has brought the issue to the forefront of mobile phone companies. Before we were brushed off and put aside. Now they seem keen to help us out."
Councillor Heather Kidd, chairwoman of the joint committee for Clun, Bishop's Castle, Chirbury and Worthen, said: "After months of fobbing off EE are at long last sending John Carwadine, their head of community affairs, to speak to parish and Shropshire councillors and the public."
The meeting will take place at 7pm on October 9 at Edgerton Village Hall.
Reflexologist Rebecca backs our campaign:
A reflexologist who says her lack of phone signal is playing havoc with her business has signed the Shropshire Star Get US Connected petition.
Rebecca Richards, of Church Road in Baschurch, joined the campaign while visiting Shrewsbury Library with 17-month-old daughter Annabella.
Since moving to Baschurch from Mid Wales in May she says she has not been able to get any signal on O2.
She said: "The only signal where we lived near Newtown was with O2 but when we moved here we couldn't get anything at all.
"But I'm halfway through a two-year contract so I can't change.
"O2 have got an app called 2GO that you can download to stream your phone through the Wi-Fi so I can use the phone if I am near the hub in the house but I can't use it if I'm out of the house or in Baschurch.
"O2 say if I've got a problem they will send me a text message but that's no good if I can't get it. I really hope the petition helps the situation. It's ridiculous.
"These mobile phone companies charge people through the nose and if you don't get the service they should be able to let you out of the contract part way though and go with someone else who does.
"My husband was working from home but they couldn't get hold of him.
"And I run a reflexology business from home and it does affect my business because I'm having to hand out my landline number, which I would prefer to keep private."
Click here to vote in our Get Us Connected petition
