St Mawgan area needs mobile phone and data services now!

In 2015 one of the mobile phone operators began formative consultations with landowners in the area around St Mawgan village and Mawgan Porth to identify a suitable location for a mobile communication service mast. The need for mobile services in the area was highlighted in the tradegy on Mawgan Porth beach in 2014 where emergency services may have been on the scene sooner if mobile services were accessible in the area. Considerable work was done once a site was identified but the efforts were to be stymied when the landowner of the proposed site pulled his support for the siting of the mast on his land.

In 2016 an agent for Telefonica (UK) Ltd researched potentially suitable sites for another mast and shortlisted several sites including one at Cornwall Newquay Airport. In January 2017 they came forward with a proposal to install a mast at Lanhearne Barton Farm. This proposal was opposed by the local Parish Council and was subsequently refused by the Local Planning Authority.

The local communities and businesses in and around St Mawgan and Mawgan Porth are fed up with being denied access mobile phone and data services. Tourist businesses in particular are at a disadvantage where their potential patrons see access to mobile communications an essential factor in the decision on where to book accommodation or stop for refreshments. Residents and visitors alike are inconvenienced with limitations on access to the internet, the absence of any backup or alternative to fixed wired broadband and by the assumptions employed by many online security systems and websites that access to SMS messaging services is universal.

Whilst it is appreciated that the visual impact of a mast will have some affect on environment the community as a whole cannot be denied access to these essential digital services simply because someone can see it. As there are landowners willing to accommodate the mast and infrastructure on suitable sites the Local Planning Authority and Parish Council should assist identify the site with least impact to serve our communities and ensure these facilities are installed as a matter of high priority within the next 12 months.