August 17, 2005
Temporay O2 mobile phone mast goes up in central Burnham-On-Sea
Mobile phone company O2 has given in to pressure from Burnham-On-Sea customers and emergency services by installing a new temporary mast in the town to try and resolve reception problems.
A 12.5 metre transmitter is being installed near 26 Marine Drive this week which will serve as a stand-in emergency mast for six months until a permanent mast is built.
It comes as O2 has been under heavy pressure from mobile users to improve reception in the town after it decommissioned its main transmitter at Pepperall Road, Highbridge in June without issuing any advance notice to customers or local emergency services.
Concerned crewmembers at BARB, the group that runs Burnham’s rescue hovercraft, said lives could be put at risk because of the sudden drop in reception. Messages alerting the crew to attend training session and incidents have not been arriving or been delayed.
Town councillor Peter Clayton, who is also chairman of the planning committee, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It is important the emergency services are not hampered in any way and I feel this mast is an important addition to their communication system.”
“It is a temporary mast for a maximum of six months so every effort is being made to find a permanent site. This is a sensitive issue as there are differing views as to their safety but in this case the emissions will be minute compared to a normal mast.”
He added: “It has been suggested the residents have been consulted and we have had no objections so far.”
RELATED LINKS:
Pepperall Road phone transmitter is decommissioned
Hovercraft crew air their concerns about poor mobile reception
Burnham-On-Sea Discussion Forums
