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Plans Submitted To Improve 'Very Poor' Mobile Connectivity At Thorness Bay Holiday Park

Monday, 15 November 2021 16:41

By Louise Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Facebook: Thorness Bay Holiday Park

Internet connectivity could get better at one of the Island’s Parkdean Resorts.

Applications have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council to install eight galvanised poles with telecommunication equipment on them at Thorness Bay Holiday Park.

In planning documents, Avision Young, said some of Parkdean’s more remotely located resorts have ‘very poor’ mobile connectivity and are not up to the standard holidaymakers have come to expect.

At Thorness Bay, the existing network infrastructure is ‘inadequate’ with signal black spots and weak coverage, according to the planning agents.
The height of the poles will range from six to ten metres and they will all be placed within the park.

The proposed height of the antennas is said to be at the lowest possible height, while ensuring coverage.

The eight new sectors will add to part of a wider network, comprised of 15 sectors altogether, where a bespoke WiFi system will be installed for users of the park to have easy internet access.

Part of the holiday park lies close to, but not in, the Thorness Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest.

It is, however, in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but the planning agents say the poles would not detract from the surrounding area.

The scheme has a sympathetic design, they say, which would cause little impact on the visual amenity while ensuring sufficient coverage requirements are achieved.

The eight applications have been submitted separately so if there are any specific issues with one sector they can be addressed while the rest of the network is rolled out.

To view the prior approval applications you can visit the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register, searching Thorness Bay.

Comments on the applications can be submitted until December 3.
 

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