Villagers bemoan phone coverage after mast removal

Residents in picturesque villages in north Essex say they have been left with patchy or non-existent mobile phone coverage since a telecommunications tower was removed last month.

People in Langham and Dedham, near Colchester, are experiencing their phone calls dropping out or a failure to send messages. About 3,000 residents live across the two villages.

A mast at Gun Hill on Ipswich Road in Dedham was removed in May because of the presence of an underground gas main.

M Group Telecom Ltd applied for a new mast last year, but Colchester City Council refused it, citing concerns over its visual impact.

Gillian Flack, from Langham, said making even a "basic phone call" had become incredibly difficult.

"The village has effectively been dragged backwards by years," said the 72-year-old.

"This isn't about convenience anymore, it's about safety, local businesses struggling to operate - and elderly residents feeling like they're being cut off."

The application to install a new 20m-high (66ft) monopole was submitted by M Group Telecom Ltd in July, but was rejected the following month.

A council planning officer said the proposed structure, by "reason of its height and utilitarian appearance, would result in a prominent and intrusive feature that fails to respect the scenic quality of the Dedham Vale National Landscape".

The old mast was removed after a request by Cadent Gas. The new mast would have been located very nearby on the same site.

Flack said the planning refusal felt "completely disconnected from the reality of modern life".

Colchester City Council said it understood residents' frustration.

A spokesperson further explained the decision was made because of the effect on the Dedham Vale National Landscape.

"We want to be clear that we are supportive of improved digital connectivity in our communities," they said.

"We would welcome discussions with operators to explore alternative solutions or revised proposals that meet coverage needs while respecting the area's special landscape qualities."

M Group Telecom Ltd acts on behalf of Mobile Broadband Network Limited, EE Ltd and H3G UK Ltd.

The company was approached for comment.

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