PLANS to introduce a new mast to boost mobile phone coverage in north Meirionnydd have been welcomed this week.

After years of complaints about poor Vodafone mobile phone coverage, there are now plans for a new 17.5-metre mast in the Talybont area.

This would mean that there would be better 2G, 3G and possibly 4G coverage for the area.

Cllr Eryl Jones-Williams said: “For years I have been campaigning for better Vodafone coverage for the area. People in this area get their signal from a Vodafone mast in the Pwllheli area and when the area is busy, there is a drain on the output.

“And because this area is at the perimeter of the coverage, we are the first to lose the signal, especially at busy weekends and bank holidays.

“From my information, Clarke Telecom for Vodafone are looking at sites in the Talybont area where coverage has been even worse than Dyffryn Ardudwy.

"A number of options are being assessed and the company has chosen a site where they plan to build a 17.5-metre monopole supporting three antennas, two transmutation dishes, two equipment cabinets and two metre cabinets."

“I now want the Snowdonia National Park Authority to support this application and not put obstacles in their way.

A spokeswoman for Vodafone said: “As part of Vodafone’s continued network improvement programme, we are aware there is a requirement in the Talybont area to build a new mast to provide 4G services locally and to improve the existing 2G and 3G coverage.

“This new mast will support both Vodafone and O2 customers in the area.

“We are currently at the consultation stage of the process which ends on 4 October and we hope to submit a planning application shorty after this.”