Lee Roberts Campaigning for Improved Mobile Coverage
Tory Parliamentary spokesperson wants boost to West Putney signal
Lee Roberts
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April 26, 2023
After hearing from residents about the poor quality of mobile phone service in West Putney, Lee Roberts, the Conservative Parliamentary Spokesperson for Putney, is campaigning for a better signal coverage.
While campaigning around The Ashburton Estate to stop the planned development for new infill blocks he became aware of local concerns about poor mobile service which he discovered was a longstanding issue.
Following an approach to senior management at Vodafone, which acts as the lead network for mobile phone networks in Greater London (South), Mr Roberts has identified significant gaps in mobile phone coverage in the West Putney area.
Vodafone have indicated their readiness to invest new transmission infrastructure and are working with Mr Roberts to open a public consultation to assess residents’ appetite to improve signal strength.
Map of mobile phone coverage in West Putney
He said, “There has been a lot of talk about improving the service by politicians over the last few years, but nothing has happened. I am not a career politician and drawing upon my experience in business I went straight to the Chief Technical Officer of the lead network handing network infrastructure in SW London.
“Vodafone provided me with a coverage map showing areas with poor signal strength, and they are now actively working on solutions to improve local mobile phone coverage with new equipment. This will require permission from Wandsworth Council, and it needs your input.”
He has launched a Facebook group to consult with residents and lobby for an improved service and is conducting a survey of residents to find out their views.
His efforts are supplementing those of local MP Fleur Anderson who held a public consultation on the issue in July 2020. She worked with local councillors and residents to get hundreds of signatures for the petition presented to the then Conservative Council and has brought together a number of phone companies, Wandsworth Council representatives and officers in order to resolve the situation. A spokesperson for Ms Anderson said that she would be willing to share the results of her survey with Mr Anderson but that it would be frustrating for residents to be consulted with again when what they need is to see the issue resolved.
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