Mast on and the future’s Orange in Beaminster (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Mast on and the future’s Orange in Beaminster

12:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in Bridport By James Tourgout

THE future is Orange for mobile phone users in Beaminster after the media giant switched a mast back on.

The company turned off an aerial as part of a new link-up with T-Mobile under the EE banner to avoid duplicating its coverage.

It sparked an outcry in Beaminster and surrounding villages who lost their signal.

Now the company has performed a U-turn and switched the mast back on after a call from the Bridport and Lyme Regis News.

Coun Janet Page, who sits on the town and district councils, said: I’m very pleased. Most people in Beaminster will feel the same.

“It is not a nice feeling being cut off. It is really good news.”

Furious phone users hit out after losing coverage on Orange mobile phones in the area over the new year.

They contacted the communications giant – well known for ‘the future is bright – the future is Orange’ motto – to complain as well as the Bridport and Lyme Regis News.

The parent company had decided to switch off one of its masts in the area to avoid duplication of coverage for its customer base but this left Orange customers in Beaminster cut off.

An EE spokesman said that they would redeploy the mast – switch it back on.

He said that as an organisation EE was seeking to optimise its network amid the Orange and T-Mobile link-up.

This has involved in switching off some masts which are deemed as redundant infrastructure which cover the same customers.

The spokesman said that they would review the situation for the Beaminster area and find a solution that suits most people.

David Allen, owner of the Londis in Clay Lane, said many customers had mentioned the loss of signal.

He said that there was a lot of anger.

Elizabeth Warren, of Beaminster, said that she had wanted to keep in touch with her daughter who was driving in an area prone to flooding, but couldn’t.