Major push to boost mobile phone reception in Shropshire

Mobile provider EE has promised a range of initiatives to boost the signal in south west Shropshire after a deluge of complaints over the last six months.

Gareth Hewlett of EE made the pledge - which includes plans for a new mast in Clun - during talks with Shropshire Council, after a long campaign for better mobile service by area councillors Charlotte Barnes, Heather Kidd and Nigel Hartin.

EE has also pledged to overhaul its complaints system following an order by industry regulator Ofcom to apologise to residents in Bishop's Castle last year over poor customer service.

Charlotte Barnes, councillor for Bishops Castle, said: "We have had some major problems with a decline in our signal quality in this area.

"We received a number of promises from John Carwadine of EE at our last meeting and we are eager to see what progress has been made.

"I don't think the signal is particularly good in Shropshire as a whole but in the Clun, Bishop's Castle and Chirbury areas it is particularly dire."

She said as well as a new mast in Clun, Mr Hewlett told councillors the firm was looking to renew many of the masts in the area as they were reaching the end of their service life.

EE is also keen to install a larger network of 'minimasts', she said, sited on community buildings - both to create more comprehensive network coverage, and give the owners of those buildings an income.

The company will also be carrying out a review of reception in the area, looking in detail how many calls are missed and how many local calls are connected.

Engineers were also being sent out equipped with enhanced smart phones to analyse signal strength throughout the area, and users could help out with an EE app, available on most new android and smart phones, to let the company know anonymously if and when there is a drop in signal.

On customer service Mr Hewlett said staff were being trained to be much more responsive and recognise area-wide problems when they occur.

Call centres are being moved back to the UK from abroad with £12.5 billion invested in service issues, he told councillors.

Councillor Barnes said: "On the face of it this is good news. It seems that EE are at long last taking our complaints seriously.

"However, we do need to keep a sharp eye on proceedings to make sure things really do improve.

"I would urge residents to keep their complaints coming both to us and to EE in the meantime."

A spokesman for EE added: "We're continuing to work closely with local government and the Shropshire community to put a strong plan into action to improve service this year.

"This is alongside our work with the Government to improve regulation that will make it easier for us to access sites for maintenance and repair, ensuring a more reliable service in rural communities."