REPRESENTATIVES from all of the major mobile phone companies are coming to Selkirk.

And local MSP Paul Wheelhouse hopes that next week’s phone signal summit will lead to better coverage for the region.

The public meeting at, appropriately, the Connections centre is being billed as an opportunity for Borderers to air their grumbles.

Mr Wheelhouse told us: “We have a situation currently where mobile phone signal is sporadic at best and non-existent at worst in many places in the Scottish Borders and it is an issue I know my constituents are keen to see resolved.

“Mobile phone coverage is a matter of convenience for most people, with many no longer using a landline but only a mobile phone and relying on it as their main method of communication. “However, there are also health and safety concerns for people like hill farmers who are out in all weather conditions and for them their mobile could be a lifeline, while the limited service availability could become a deterrent to tourism on the region, while also preventing businesses from being able to compete on a level playing field with other areas of Scotland.” Monday’s drop-in session from 5pm to 6.30pm will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

As well as representatives from the main mobile companies, the meeting will be attended by officials from the Scottish Government.

There will also be a short presentation by the Mobile Operators Association.

Mr Wheelhouse added: “There will be an opportunity to speak to operators individually about any problems service users face during the drop-in session.

“I hope people who have raised their concerns, either through their elected representatives, newspapers or online, are able to come along to Connections at Back Row, to hear directly from the Mobile Operators Association as to the constraints on them and also where I and local councillors and members of the community can ensure the importance of improved coverage coming to the Scottish Borders is well understood and where we can provide strong encouragement to all operators to step up their efforts to invest in the necessary infrastructure.”