Jinkster,
IS the speed only slow because of the location?
With ADSL (from any provider) it's always the same old story...
It's always a mixture of :
(a) Location
(b) Contention
(c) Packet Shaping
For more information on Plusnet's packet shaping policy,
see here
Contention is largely dependent on the BT network (non-LLU providers such as Plusnet effectivley buy their ADSL wholesale from BT*, and so are at BT's mercy).
* = Before anyone says so, yes, this was intended to be an oversimplifcation !