Rottingdean has been left with no EE or Three mobile signal for weeks after a mast on top of a pub was removed and plans for a temporary mast were withdrawn after objections about parking.
The signal from the mast on top of the White Horse stopped at the end of August when the pub closed for refurbishment and a new mast has not been installed.
Businesses in the high street, some of which use mobile signals to take card payments, have resorted to mobile phone routers and wifi calling and texts.
Jack Jordan, from the Lost Buoys Barbershop, said: “The problems have caused me not to be contactable during working hours (no signal or internet) and it has affected how I take payment through my card machine.
“Most of the businesses in this area are having major issues, along with the local residents.
“I’ve had to buy internet from BT every day – which soon adds up.”
Mr Jordan has forked out £131.85 for three weeks of extra internet so customers can make card payments.
In May this year, an application to “deploy emergency temporary electronic communications apparatus” at the Marine Cliffs car park was withdrawn after 17 public objections.
Comments about the application cited the loss of car parking spaces as an objection. The application and comments can be found on Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning portal by searching for reference BH2023/01136.
The phone infrastructure company responsible for the mobile masts, MBNL, which is jointly owned by EE and Three, said that they were still talking to the council about using the car park – and looking for a new permanent site.
Will Osborne, national planning manager at MBNL, said: “The temporary mast was required to replace our existing site at the White Horse.
“We were required to relocate our services due to plans from the owners to undertake refurbishment works at the public house and were served legal notice to vacate by the building owner.
“The decommissioning of our equipment at the White Horse is near completion. However, services ceased on Thursday 31 August 2023.
“As noted, a notice to instal an emergency temporary installation at the car park (at) Marine Drive was provided to the local planning authority.
“This, in error, was displayed on their planning portal as a planning application. While this has been removed from the planning portal, we are continuing to discuss this with them.
“We are undertaking the necessary due diligence to locate a new permanent site within the area and we will, as always, continue to work closely with the local planning authority, locally elected members and residents to do so.
“Our aim is for the community to enjoy high-quality and reliable mobile connectivity and the benefits that it brings.”
Local resident Benjamin Tindal said: “In this day and age it seems extraordinary that a solution cannot be immediately reached to fix this.
“I have no signal in my own house and it’s beyond a joke.”
So let me get this straight. Residents refuse a phone mast, now do not have phone signal because they don’t have a phone mast?
Shot themselves in the foot there
Although the 17 objectors can consider themselves first-class idiots, the issue appears to lie between the contractor and the council.
“This, in error, was displayed on their planning portal as a planning application. Whilst this has been removed from the planning portal, we are continuing to discuss this with them.“
Quite why it’s taken from May until October to “discuss” without any affirmative action is not clear, but incompetence on both sides is suspected.
I hope the 17 local objectors are suffering from having no mobile phone signal. Why is no ‘common good’ taken into account in cases like this .
Nimbys at work as usual. It’s like those who don’t want airport expansion, yet fly away three times a year for a break.
Can’t a temporary aerial be erected on the block of flats next door , or the dis-used golf course by the windmill?
Maybe the people that are calling the 17 objectors idiots may want a 65ft mast next to their back garden. If they also did the research they would see that there are no records of these masts being removed after the so called estimated 18 months as the ‘temporary’ planning states. They would also find out that these masts can create noise that can be heard 150m away along with fumes where diesel generators are used 24/7. The Internet is full of home owners that have not been made aware of the erecting of such masts and some state that they have been in situ for over 10 years. Look at the objections made and you will clearly understand why the application was withdrawn from this proposed site before you start calling people idiots. Maybe the idiot is the person who shouts out before understanding the situation.
I’ve been to that pub several times, which back gardens are next to that car park, Trace? Why would concerns be raised about fumes from a generator with the extremely busy A259 right there?
It’s no skin off my nose if Rottingdean doesn’t have a mobile signal due to your NIMBY-ism, crack on and enjoy it. Put your real name here so other residents can thank you for your efforts in keeping Rottingdean free of modern conveniences.
Your comments show that you really have little understanding of planning legislation. I would welcome you providing an example of a telephone mast which was deployed using the same Emergency powers talked about here which is still in situ. The style of mast isn’t fit for purpose for longevity as a starting point, and should a temporary location be considered as a suitable permanent base it would be subjected to a full planning application, visible to everyone and open to comments and consultation. My understanding is that generators have come on a long way and are hybrid, so against the busy roads, barely an inconvenience. Lack of signal for businesses is an issue, clearly you aren’t one those struggling to make a living? Also poor signal impacts the Emergency Services Network who rely on EE’s network. Let’s also hope you don’t find yourself inconvenienced by that critical fact.