Brighton Mainline 4G/5G upgrades

[MrJeeves]

Cellnex put in an application for a large phone mast near Wivelsfield station (DM/25/0589) in March this year and another for near Hassocks (DM/24/2531) in late October 2024, later amended in March 2025 too.

The Hassocks site would be south of the station within the land of the old Goods Yard. It looks like the amended plans show a reduction in the site's footprint from 3 antennas per sector down to only two.



The Wivelsfield site is to the north of the station, west of the line, next to the previously-prone-to-failure embankment within a small nature reserve area with footpaths leading along the railway line.



I'm sure we can all imagine what the public consultation comments are for these two planning applications... Some people are beyond words.

 

[infobleep]

Cellnex put in an application for a large phone mast near Wivelsfield station (DM/25/0589) in March this year and another for near Hassocks (DM/24/2531) in late October 2024, later amended in March 2025 too.

The Hassocks site would be south of the station within the land of the old Goods Yard. It looks like the amended plans show a reduction in the site's footprint from 3 antennas per sector down to only two.

View attachment 179056

The Wivelsfield site is to the north of the station, west of the line, next to the previously-prone-to-failure embankment within a small nature reserve area with footpaths leading along the railway line.

View attachment 179057

I'm sure we can all imagine what the public consultation comments are for these two planning applications... Some people are beyond words.

I wonder how many of them want decent mobile phone reception?

 

[jon0844]

I wonder how many of them want decent mobile phone reception?

All of them, but they likely expect the sites to be hidden.

An application a couple of years ago in Welwyn Garden City, in what I believe is part of the conservation area, had objectors saying they should put the site within the trees of the nearby woods so it wouldn't be an eyesore...

...or actually give anywhere near a good, reliable, service.

 

[MrJeeves]

It's the same people who visit foreign countries and make remarks about "wow the data is so much better here!" without seemingly putting two and two together and noticing coverage sites on every other rooftop...!

 

[jon0844]

It's the same people who visit foreign countries and make remarks about "wow the data is so much better here!" without seemingly putting two and two together and noticing coverage sites on every other rooftop...!

I know. Ironically, we probably look out for the infrastructure but if you aren't into this sort of thing then I bet 99% of people don't see all the cell towers and panels mounted anywhere and everywhere - they just notice they're getting amazing service everywhere they go, indoors and out, above ground and below.

And as I've said before, people are more likely to buy a house if it has good connectivity - not the other way round. So if you've argued against a cell tower for house prices (most do) then it seems self-defeating.

 

[mrmartin]

I know. Ironically, we probably look out for the infrastructure but if you aren't into this sort of thing then I bet 99% of people don't see all the cell towers and panels mounted anywhere and everywhere - they just notice they're getting amazing service everywhere they go, indoors and out, above ground and below.

And as I've said before, people are more likely to buy a house if it has good connectivity - not the other way round. So if you've argued against a cell tower for house prices (most do) then it seems self-defeating.

Yeah I was in Greece recently and the cell service was incredible. Rare to not have NR3500 despite being in the middle of nowhere. Then you look round and there is a mast on the top of a lot of the mountains which explains it!