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.
Internet connectivity could improve at one of Isle of Wight’s Parkdean Resorts.
‘Very poor’ mobile connectivity
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.
At the lowest possible height
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.
In an AONB
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.
Have your say
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 3rd December.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
