Fears For Businesses

Calls for action to tackle poor mobile phone coverage in north east Fife.

Residents and businesses in the north east are being urged to apply pressure on regulators to improve mobile phone coverage.

There are fears the local economy could suffer unless 4G and broadband coverage isn't improved.

The UK government recently announced that 98-percent coverage indoors will be a condition for any company applying for a 4G licence.

Fife LibDem Group Leader Cllr Tim Brett said:

"This announcement is very welcome. Here in NE Fife there are still too many areas of poor reception. I am asking residents who live in these black holes to let me know so that I can make the case for the required improvements. For example, parts of the Howe of Fife and even St Andrews do not receive a reliable signal."

East Neuk councillor Elizabeth Riches agreed:

"There are places in Anstruther, Cellardyke and Crail with such poor reception that workmen have to walk up the hill should they need to use their mobiles and, should anybody ring me on my mobile, it is by no means certain that the signal will last for the duration of the call. It is hardly an incentive for new enterprises to locate in such a beautiful area of NE Fife if such basic communications are lacking."