Shropshire Star launches petition over county's mobile phone signal crisis
The Shropshire Star today sends a message to mobile phone companies who are currently short changing our county: "It is time to Get Us Connected".
A petition has been launched that will be sent to the Government demanding action be taken to tackle a problem that leaves large parts of Shropshire in a black hole.
Our campaign has the support of Shropshire Council, which will be placing a copy of the petition in all of its libraries.
And you can also add your name to the list simply by logging on to the Shropshire Star or following the link from Shropshire Council's online site.
Click here to sign our 'Get Us Connected' petition
See also: Shropshire phone signal crisis fight begins
Star comment: Join Shropshire fight on mobile phone networks
What's the mobile phone signal like where you are in Shropshire? Let us know in the comment box below.
Council leader Keith Barrow was today raising the issue at a full meeting of members at Shirehall.
He said: "One of the things I will say to council is that I am delighted our local newspaper, which covers the whole county, is working with us to get a solution. We need to work together with this, because if we work in isolation we would not get the same results and response we are getting."
One of the major phone providers EE has already responded to the Get Us Connected campaign by launching an investigation.
The petition, backed by the county's MPs, will be handed to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Sajid Javid.
It urges the Government to apply pressure on to the main phone networks – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – and demand an improved service to tackle the crisis.
Shropshire Star editor Martin Wright said: "This is a huge issue that affects thousands. We have had a big response from readers since we launched the campaign last week.
"We hope everyone will sign the petition.
"It sends a message that the situation must change. Shropshire needs an effective mobile phone signal if it is to thrive commercially and families also rely on it keep in touch with loved ones.
"We are pleased Councillor Barrow is backing the petition. He is right in saying this is not a political issue, but something the county can unite behind."
Shropshire MPs supporting campaign:
MPs have thrown their weight behind the Shropshire Star campaign to get better mobile phone coverage across the county.
Shropshire politicians, residents and businesses have bemoaned poor mobile phone coverage across the county.
And the message from the region's MPs has been clear – we deserve a better service.
North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson voiced his concerns, saying the lack of signal was affecting businesses in the county.
Meanwhile, all five of the region's MPs – Mr Paterson, David Wright, Mark Pritchard, Daniel Kawczynski and Phillip Dunne – co-signed Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow's letter of complaint to Olaf Swantee, chief executive of EE, before throwing their weight behind the Shropshire Star's campaign.
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said: "The Shropshire Star has been pinpointing and supporting campaigns over the years which has kept them going and have been effective, such as the M54 Shrewsbury road sign and the direct Shropshire to London rail link.
"I hope this is going to be the next one that the paper doggedly pursues and gets the result. This is a hugely important issue and I will support the Shropshire Star in its campaign. This is a really serious outstanding issue and I am glad Keith Barrow from Shropshire Council is approaching the issue of phone signal as well.
"Last week I spent a whole day in the village of Pontesbury and I could get no phone signal for the whole time I was there."
Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, said: "I support the campaign to improve coverage as long as the masts are in suitable places. Mobile phone companies should be forced to work more closely together on improving coverage."
Telford MP David Wright said: "I've not been approached by any of my constituents saying they have had any particular problems with signal at the moment – but I am conscious it is a big issue and anything that can improve signal and connectivity is a good thing."
Montgomeryshire MP, Glyn Davies said that the mobile phone reception in Mid Wales was very poor and hopes to benefit from any improvements to the Shropshire area.
"There are plenty of areas in Mid Wales with little or no mobile phone reception," he said. "That affects businesses and individuals. I believe that very soon it will difficult to sell a house if it has a poor mobile phone reception."
Chamber boss says its time to sign up:
Shropshire businesses need to sign up to the Shropshire Star's new petition to ensure a level playing field for the many rural companies in the county.
That's the message from the chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Richard Sheehan, who has today backed the paper's Get Us Connected campaign.
He said: "In the modern age in which we live, when communication is vitally important, the business community needs access to stable infrastructure that assists them to run a business successfully, to generate wealth and to create jobs.
"Clearly in a rural environment it is more critical than ever to have a strong, steady mobile coverage, because of the journey times in and the distances between businesses that wish to collaborate.
"It's vital that we come together as a community to force the hand of the decision-makers to ensure that happens.
"Clearly the need of our home-working business fraternity is much greater than many metropolitan areas, and they are distinctly disadvantaged by a poor mobile signal."
The vast majority of Shropshire businesses employ 10 people or fewer, and many are based in rural areas or in people's homes.
A survey has already been launched by the Shropshire Business Board to gauge the effectiveness of the mobile signal in the county and what effect that has on trade.
Lobbying
And Mr Sheehan added that a unified voice for the county was necessary to demonstrate the strength of feeling among frustrated mobile users all over Shropshire.
"As a chamber we are constantly lobbying government on those issues that we feel are relevant to business, and we are delighted that the initiative has been taken on this issue," he said. "It's fantastic that it is being driven forward as it's an issue that is close to our hearts.
"The business world is highly competitive and we need to ensure we have every advantage. This is an opportunity for the voice of business to be heard, and we should not waste it.
"By coming together we are stronger and more likely to achieve a positive outcome, and I would urge every business to take the time to complete the petition, which only takes under a minute."
Click here to sign our 'Get Us Connected' petition
What's the mobile phone signal like where you are in Shropshire? Let us know in the comment box below.
