Radio towers rejected

Two firms specialising in high-speed stock market trading have had their plans to erect two 300-metre-plus radio towers in picturesque Dover, UK, rejected by the local council.

Vigilant Global and New Line Networks wanted to build the towers to send signals between London and Frankfurt. The radio link would speed transmission over that distance by a vital few milliseconds.

“In 26 years as a councillor, this is the worst application I have ever seen,” said Bernard Butcher, vice chairman of the planning committee in his reply to Vigilant’s application. “This particular proposal is just unsightly, it’s too incredibly stupid for us to even contemplate. There have to be other locations where it will not cause so much havoc and unsightliness.”

Meanwhile, authorities in Oslo, Norway, are considering demolishing an iconic radio and observation tower that has dominated the city’s skyline since 1962.

Known as the Tryvannstårnet, the tower was shut in 2004 as it no longer met emergency exit and fire regulations.

With FM radio soon to be switched off in Norway, the tower is no longer needed for any transmission purposes.

Pictured: The Tryvannstårnet tower. Image courtesy Thomas Berglund under CC BY 3.0

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