An ‘eyesore’ mobile telecommunications mast at one of Ruddington’s green gateways – which was only erected in October 2017 after being controversially approved by Rushcliffe planners – is already set to be replaced.
It seems the fifty foot tall ‘mono-pole’ alongside Wilford Road bordering Ruddington Grange Golf Course is no longer fit for purpose – despite being less that two and a half years’ old. New work which is set to take place over the next fortnight will mean further traffic disruption along this route whilst the current mast is taken down and a new one put in its place.
The original installation by Telefónica UK Limited (which operates the O2 network) over-ran into December 2017 after contractors discovered the electrical supply they planned to run from The Lodge Boutique B’n’B nearby was not sufficient to carry the extra 50amp load they needed to power the new mast. This resulted in a large diesel generator appearing on the verge alongside Wilford Road for several weeks to make it operational. Then followed further roadworks to dig a trench to the opposite side of Wilford Road where a new pole-mounted transformer was erected to achieve a suitable connection from the National Grid. Meantime villagers complaining that the prominent white mast was visually inappropriate within a row of mature trees had to wait several months for it to be painted a more sympathetic green colour.
From Monday 27th until Wednesday 29th January two-way temporary signals will again be in use on the B680 for the footway to be dug up again 160 metres North of the junction with Paget Crescent for the excavation for new cabinet bases and ‘mono-pole root foundation for the site upgrade’. These traffic lights will return from Saturday 8th to Wednesday 12th February 2020 to allow the removal of the current mobile mast and installation of a new mast and cabinets and commissioning of the new equipment.*
{* See the update >>HERE<<.}
O2 mobile users thinking this pain will at least mean the gain of the latest 5G technology in Ruddington are also set to be disappointed. A spokesperson for the telecoms giant told RUDDINGTON.info: “These planned works to the mast will improve 4G performance in the area – which is all part of the £2 million a day we invest in our network for customers.”
Motorists and NCT Navy 3 bus passengers are being warned to expect peak time delays during the work. Whether or not the replacement mast which appears will be white or already painted green this time awaits to be seen!
