Orange is being urged to reconsider its decision to build a mast on Balksbury Hill in favour of a nearby site - after an expert identified it as a better spot. Communications consultant Richard Newstead maintains the proposed mast at Balksbury Hill fails to 'give adequate coverage on the A303 east of its junction with the A3057. In a report investigating other possible sites he says that the new site is in a 'better location in terms of coverage' than Orange's site at Balksbury Hill. Mr Newstead continues: "A 15 metre mast here would be likely to give Orange continuous coverage along the A303 while giving a useful improvement in coverage in Andover and Upper Clatford. "It would give some coverage in Anna Valley. "The only dwelling that I could see was the farm at about 200 metres distance to the north west of the possible site." Now Mrs Jennifer Johnson, a leading protester, has called on Orange to put the Balksbury Hill project on hold and give 'serious consideration to this alternative site'. She has assured Orange it would not encounter any opposition to the alternative site, which lies to the south west of the junction of the A303 and A3057. The new site is socially and environmentally more acceptable than the one at Balksbury Hill, Mrs Johnson says in a letter to Orange. "The landowner is willing and would be prepared to consider other masts or mast sharing." Mrs Johnson and fellow campaigners have consistently said that they will take legal action in the county court should Orange proceed with the mast at Balksbury Hill. The advice from the campaigners' solicitor is that Mr Newstead's findings 'strengthened significantly' the chances of the action. And Mrs Johnson adds: "We believe that Orange has nothing to lose and everything to gain by moving to the new site."
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