LIBDEMS GET BEHIND ETTRICK AND YARROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER RURAL AND REMOTE MOBILE COVERAGE (Jim Hume)

LIBDEMS GET BEHIND ETTRICK AND YARROW COMMUNITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER RURAL AND REMOTE MOBILE COVERAGE

September 9, 2010 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has congratulated Ettrick and Yarrow Community Councillors on their campaign to highlight the need for mobile coverage in rural areas.

The MSP's sentiments were echoed by Borders colleague, Jeremy Purvis MSP.

Mr Hume said:

"It's vital in rural and remote areas that there is adequate access to mobile coverage and the Community Councillors have really taken the lead in highlighting this issue.

"Having good mobile coverage in rural and remote areas is crucial in terms of access to the emergency services, for business reasons and more generally for social reasons.

"I congratulate Daphne Jackson and her fellow Community Councillors on their work and for taking the initiative in petitioning the Scottish Parliament."

Borders MSP, Jeremy Purvis, added:-

"Better mobile phone coverage is essential for the Ettrick Valley. Over the summer I met with all the operating companies and stressed the need for improvements. There may be opportunities but we need to campaign strongly.

"I have been working with the local community and will continue to do so.

"Better coverage is imperative for the economy and also the safety of rural workers."

ENDS

S3M-06895 Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): Improved Mobile Phone Coverage in Rural Areas- That the Parliament understands the importance of adequate mobile phone coverage in rural areas; further understands the benefits to community safety and the local economy that such coverage would provide; calls upon the Scottish Government to make representations to mobile phone network providers to highlight the need for reliable network coverage in rural, remote and isolated communities, and congratulates Ettrick and Yarrow Community Council for taking the lead on highlighting this matter.