Mobile Phone Masts to Improve Service in Wigmore, Rainham and Hempstead

Two new mobile phone masts are proposed for Wigmore and Hempstead to improve coverage for O2 and Vodafone. Both proposed sites are situated so that they are not directly outside a residential property and the Wigmore site in particular is on an empty piece of land that is adjacent to two mini roundabouts. Current designs for mobile phone masts are very similar to lampposts so they will be virtually invisible with all the other street furniture in a road. Some local residents are campaigning against the site of these mobile phone masts although they acknowledge there is a problem with mobile phone reception.

One resident gave the classic line "I realise reception is poor in Hempstead, but there must be a better way of improving reception."  Unfortunately not - the only way to improve reception is to add more masts especially to improve 3G coverage which requires masts to be more closely spaced than for the older G2/GPRS technology.

Another argument is that the masts are situated too close to local schools - one suggestion was that 300m was too close to a school. Presumably that means campaigners believe that a radius of say at least 500m around any school cannot have any masts. In some areas with several schools this would mean that no masts could be erected at all giving no mobile coverage. In other areas with one school it would mean they had to be at least 1km apart and would leave huge empty spots of coverage where little signal exists.

If no-one used mobile phones due to the perceived health risks then the mobile companies would not be rolling out new masts. However mobile use is increasing so clearly mobile phone users - including the campaigners against the masts - are happy to use their phones.

The most common complaint from mobile phone users is lack of signal - if these campaigns get their way then this situation will not be improved.

More info on the guidelines that Mobile Operators use for siting mobile phone masts here
Health effects of mobile phone masts http://www.vodafone.com/content/index/uk_corporate_responsibility/protecting/mobiles_health.html

Mobile Phone Mast Campaign - Wigmore and Hempstead

When running the Rainham History site I have always tried to keep a neutral stance on local issues to avoid any controversy. However the local paper today is reporting a campaign to stop a new mobile phone mast being erected in Durham Road is one that I feel needs to be highlighted. My personal view is that this is a crazy decision to try to stop the mast being installed. The huge majority of people use mobile phones and want to be able to have good coverage. It is all very well having campaigners stating that masts should be erected in commercial areas only; however most people who want to be able to use their mobile phone do not live in a commercial area and want to be able to make phone calls at home.

Mobile phone masts are needed where people want to use their mobile phones. If the campaigners are prepared to accept that they will not use a mobile phone themselves then they may have a case but anyone using a mobile themselves has no justification to then stop a mast being erected or they risk being accused of hypocrisy. The coverage around Wigmore area is particularly poor and this mast will resolve the problem by filling in the poor coverage spots.

Sadly our local councillors are campaigning against the mast so I would urge any interested parties to raise this during the election campaign, they can be contacted by email mike.obrien@medway.gov.uk, barry.kemp@medway.gov.uk, rehman.chishti@medway.gov.uk

More information on the location of the mast can be found here

You can email your support for the mast to Mike O Brien, Councillor for Rainham using this email mike.obrien@medway.gov.uk . Hopefully with enough emails he will realise the majority are in favour of the mast going ahead.

NOTE: If you are concerned about mobile phone masts then check on the locations that are already in place including opposite Parkwood school in the centre of the Parkwood residential area. An additional mast will have no impact on any radiation levels based on the number that already are constructed. You can check the locations of mobile masts in Rainham at this website  http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search
You will see that there are currently 3 masts in the centre of Rainham (Brown St/Quinnell St) and one at Rainham station, as well as 18 (yes 18) other masts in Wigmore/Hempstead including Woodside and Fairview Avenue. All are in the middle of residential areas.