Network coverage in one Kent high street is so poor that some street traders have been forced to abandon card payments.

Poor phone signal in Canterbury has long frustrated residents and visitors alike, with the city centre often branded a “blackout zone”.

Mobile giants Vodafone and EE say there is blanket coverage in the area, but this claim has been rubbished by locals, traders and even the leader of the city council

Frankie Fernando, 57, owner of the Gourmet Sausage & Burger Company - which runs out of a wagon in the city centre - says they have given up taking card payments after finding the signal “too slow or it doesn’t even connect - in the meantime you’re holding up the queue”.

A Vodafone customer, Mr Fernando rubbishes their coverage claims as “absolute nonsense”.

The businessman who says ideally he would take card payments, as he does at his other locations, told KentOnline this loses them several customers every day.

“I turn them around and send them to the cashpoint,” he said.

Further along the high street, stallholder Lesley Riding - who runs Valentins Artisan Bakery - says the business loses customers who become “frustrated” by card payment delays.

She says the solution for her is often “walking around the stall, holding the gadget in the air and crossing my fingers”.

“As an independent business we rely on the connection in the city centre for trading and it can be slow and just disappear,” she said.

“It can create delays for us in our sales, and it can frustrate customers.”

Other businesses to face issues include taxi firm CabCo, which says drivers are often unable to take card payments at the end of journeys.

It says it leaves drivers in the difficult position of having to find a cashpoint, or return later to collect the fare.

Canterbury City Council leader Ben Fitter-Harding is challenging network providers to make the infrastructure investments he argues would solve the issue.

Among a long list of concerns, he says the poor signal sees calls dropping in emergencies, leaves tourists unable to use mapping apps and discourages people from visiting the city centre.

“Once again I call upon Vodafone, O2, Three and EE to act to build out their coverage in the city of Canterbury and provide fast and reliable connectivity for all,” he said on Twitter, in a post sent to the mobile firms.

“New masts and infrastructure investment by the networks is needed. Smaller signal boosting panels, called picocells, could also be used for hard-to-reach areas but these can be expensive.”

Vodafone initially responded to Mr Fitter-Harding’s call by sharing its signal map, which shows the city centre as having complete 4G coverage.

But when later contacted by KentOnline, the company conceded the map is a “guide” and said it “cannot guarantee actual signal coverage”.

Vodafone UK’s spokesperson, who went on to blame trees and buildings for the lack of signal, said: “We have plans to improve our coverage further over the next few months as part of our ongoing investment in our UK network. We are contacting Mr Fitter-Harding to discuss his concerns.”

Despite the long-voiced concerns over coverage, historically many residents have protested against plans to install 5G masts in the historic heart of Canterbury.

One particular bid for a site in New Dover Road was rejected last December following a public outcry and claims it would block views of the Cathedral.

Aaron Humphries, 27, who was visiting the city centre this week, told the Gazette: “I understand that Canterbury is a historic city so I can understand why people would be frustrated, but at the same time everyone relies on their mobile phones.

“When you can’t get on your phone, you can’t get on anything. Everything’s on the internet nowadays.”

EE did not respond to Cllr Fitter-Harding’s online post, but told the Gazette its coverage in Canterbury city centre stands at 99.3%.

It says it has upgraded several city centre mast sites since 2020, and has further works planned.

“We plan to improve coverage in three further locations across the city centre by June 2024 as part of the programme to bring even better connectivity to local communities and businesses,” a spokesperson said.