Poor reception for mobile phones in Dervock

Steven Phillips said: “The issue had been raised a few years ago and nothing has been advanced. We in the Community Association are raising the matter again as some of the residents have only a mobile phone as means of communication and pay for a service which frankly they are not getting.

“We have contact Mr Paul McCullagh from Telefónica O2 UK Ltd and we are hoping that the matter will be concluded in a satisfactory manner”.

Robin Swann MLA from the Ulster Unionist Party has become involved with the negotiation’s and has tasked his office manager Steven Nichol to keep an ‘eye’ on proceedings.

Robin Swann said: “With the 2012 Olympics coming up next year we would like to have better communication network in the area as we expect the number of visitors to the village to increase”.

The mobile telephone network in Stranocum is equally as bad, the Times has learned.

One resident said: “If you are in the middle of the village you have very little chance of getting a reception.

“You either have to go up by Jim McFadden’s shop or down towards the Bridge at the other end.

“There’s a new community centre being built and anyone in it and needing to use a mobile will be unable to get a signal.

“That can’t be good news.”