Mobile phone giant O2 has this week said its new phone mast on top of Burnham-On-Sea’s Ritz Cinema is set to be installed during July.
The Planning Inspectorate gave the proposed mast the go-ahead in 2009 after several years of discussions between O2 and Sedgemoor District Council.
The new mast will enable O2 to beam 3G phone signals across the centre of Burnham for the first time.
O2 spokeswoman Angela Johnson confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The new mast is due to be built in July. We are at present waiting for a date for the crane to erect the structure so I am unable to give you an exact date. The mast will provide both 2G and 3G coverage.”
The planned mast was initially rejected by Sedgemoor District Council, and a public inquiry on the proposals was held in which O2 argued in favour of the scheme.
Sedgemoor District Council’s planning officer Chris Gomm had originally said the “incongruous and alien” phone mast would be out of place in the town centre, but the decision was overturned by The Planning Inspectorate.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in 2007 that O2 had submitted an application to build the mast, disguised as a flag pole, plus three antennae on the roof of the cinema in Victoria Street, pictured, in order to introduce fast 3G mobile Internet coverage across the town.
