Residents lose phone signal after antenna taken off block of flats

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A carer can’t contact the resident they look after to get into their building after a mobile phone antenna was removed from the area, according to a local councillor.

Residents living in Burnt Ash Heights in Bromley are experiencing difficulties with their phone signal after a nearby antenna was removed.

The antenna was reportedly taken away to make way for existing buildings in the area to be demolished.

Bromley council documents show that the work will see 170 new flats in six tower blocks stretching up to 13 storeys tall being added to the area, as part of plans sent by the Riverside Group and Countryside Properties.

Labour Councillor Alisa Igoe, who represents the Plaistow ward, said at a Bromley council meeting on Monday: “One resident has a carer. The carer can’t actually contact the resident now to get into the building through the security doors.

“I’ve had many, many complaints. I’m just wondering how connectivity requirements for the residents balance with perceived detriment to the visual amenity when planning decisions are being considered.”

Members of the Labour Group requested a statement from Conservative councillor Yvonne Bear at the meeting on the topic of the antenna being removed.

The councillor said no concerns about Burnt Ash Lane phone connectivity had been previously raised with her or other cabinet members.

Cllr Bear said at the meeting: “Planning policy does not provide a requirement for replacement when masts are removed, and any decision to re-provide would be a commercial decision for the mobile telephone provider should they consider that it be necessary to maintain coverage.”

Labour Councillor Tony McPartlan, who also represents the Plaistow ward, said at the meeting that a recent study had shown that half of his ward had either very poor or no signal at all from major phone networks.

He also highlighted that emergency services, as well as the council’s own services, relied on phone signals to operate in the area.

Cllr Bear said the authority had no power in forcing phone providers to add equipment to areas of poor coverage, but that council officers would seek to collaborate with such companies to resolve the issue.

Pictured top: Burnt Ash Heights, as seen from Pike Close in Plaistow (Picture: Google Earth)