At a full council meeting on Tuesday 9th July, councillors backed a motion brought by a Liberal Democrat Cllr Jessie Jagger calling for action to improve mobile phone connectivity in Worcester’s city centre.
The motion, which was passed with cross-party support, recognises the serious gaps in mobile signal across parts of the city — particularly in historic areas such as The Shambles, New Street, and around The Hive and the Scala. These blackspots, which often go undetected in national coverage maps, affect local businesses, residents and visitors who rely on mobile phones for payments, navigation, and communication.
The motion instructs the Council to work with Worcestershire County Council to use real-world signal data and explore local solutions. However, it stopped short of fully committing to looking into small cell technology— a low-cost, proven approach already being used successfully in cities like Westminster, the City of London and Sunderland.
Cllr Jagger said “I’m pleased the council has recognised the importance of this issue, but we can’t stop here. The technology to fix this exists — it’s small-scale, it’s affordable, and in many cases, operators are willing to cover the costs. Other councils are already making it work. I want Worcester to be bold enough to explore this properly and not shy away from a practical solution.”
The issue will now go to the Place and Economic Development Committee for further exploration. Cllr Jagger is calling on the committee to look seriously at small cell deployment using city-owned buildings like the Guildhall, car parks and the Scala — not just as a way to improve signal, but also to generate a modest income for the Council.
She added “This is about leaving a lasting legacy. With less than two years left before the City Council is abolished, we need to use that time to do things that will genuinely improve the day-to-day experience of people in Worcester. Mobile connectivity is one of them — and we already have the tools to fix it.”
