A towering phone mast has been installed in Ramsgate’s Staffordshire Street car park with no indication for how long it will remain.
The mast belongs to EE / Hutchison 3G and installation last month did not require any planning permission.
Thanet council says: “As the mast is temporary and covered under the General Permitted Development Order, an application isn’t necessary.”
It has been dubbed as a new Ramsgate ‘landmark’ and stands on the boundary of Ramsgate Conservation Area.
The structure, surrounded by breeze block and metal fencing, can be seen as a blot on the skyline from across the town.
The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) allows for the installation of phone masts under certain conditions, with new masts in non-protected areas (most land) allowed if they are up to 30 metres in height or, for conservation areas, 25 metres in height.
The first Ramsgate conservation area was designated in 1970 and is the largest conservation area in Thanet.
It covers most of the town centre, from the listed buildings near the top of the High Street down to the Royal harbour, and spans west to include Pugin’s The Grange and east to the Pulhamite-bordered Winterstoke Gardens
An EE spokesperson said: “The temporary mast has been built to replace lost coverage from a previous permanent mast in the town centre which is no longer live to maintain a normal level of service for EE customers until a permanent replacement is built.
“We are unable to advise at this stage how long the temporary mast will be in position for.”
The previous mast was on the former haberdashery shop in Broad Street which is undergoing works as part of the Ramsgate regeneration programme.
Its just a mast giving people phone coverage. Plenty of buildings in Ramsgate as well.
Ramsgate’s skyline has improved.
Largest conservation area in Thanet for protecting the historic architecture and history of Ramsgate, says it all Chumpfield, Just another cheap dig at Ramsgate by you, pathetic.
Ramsgate has the biggest conservation area in Thanet to protect its historical architecture and history, says it all Chumpfield.
So yet another cheap dig by you, pathetic
You get mock-annoyed at a silly comment, yet you can’t come up with anything constructive on the article asking for suggestions on how to improve Ramsgate.
Hm.
Where does it suggest a suitable area, and nor did you Chumpy, just quick to have a cheap dig
Will they be putting any Christmas lights on it this weekend?
It’s the least they can do to mitigate against the ugliness of this monstrosity
Ian Shacklock – No doubt first to moan if no phone/tv signal! It’s temporary if you read article.
Good point Ian. Christmas lights would help. The government should compel phone companies to share their masts, then we’d fewer of them.
Ian. When you refer to “this monstrosity”. Could you clarify if you mean the mast or Ramsgate?
People soon be moaning if they had no phone signal
Exactly, Mike.
You could a good few flags up there!
You could get a good few flags up there
Funny cant put a thing up without council planning this is a ugly additional to Ramsgate how is that allowed
If you read the OP, you’ll see that that is all explained.
Wasn’t it announced by TDC a few weeks ago that it was because the phone mast had to be removed from their building in Broad Street due to the roof needing repairs, and was expected to be there for about 18 months. Sure I read that somewhere.
That’s interesting
I was told similiar when I was talking to an engineer om site 2 or 3 weeks back.
EE have been having some technical issues around ramsgate over the last couple of months (I know as I am an EE customer) so perhaps this to provide coverage whilst they perform maintenance.
I have emailed the CEO about my lack of service, i have been told i can come out of contract as a result.
BE NICE TO PUT IT UP IN THE MIDDLE OFF WESTWOOD CROSS-THAT WILL MAKE IT STAND MORE AS A LANDMARK.
Health implications are pretty serious here imo. Anyone who says lazily that we all need phone signals, must be aware that you can provide coverage without these monsters. Wonder what the 5g frequency is running at. Wonder how people nearby are sleeping now.
“5G frequency bands are divided into two main ranges: Frequency Range 1 (FR1), which includes sub-6 GHz frequencies from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz, and Frequency Range 2 (FR2), which covers higher frequencies from 24.25 GHz to 71.0 GHz”
Hope this helps.
I’m sleeping as well as ever, thanks.
5G makes milk boil in your fridge.
Go and sit on the carpark with milk in a fridge. It’s unbelievable. I think I saw that in Panorama.
I don’t think you did.
Pat – you need a change of medication!
It was either on BBC or on GBNews. I’m pretty sure you were the presenter. (Maybe I should check my mushroom supplier?)
Sounds like the calibre of GBeebies