RSGB News

GB3VHF

In recent days there has been much debate that the RSGB has withdrawn funding and support from the GB3VHF beacon group and that this action has forced the group to make a decision to close down the beacon at the end of December.  GB3VHF is sited on the Wrotham mast which is one of the most expensive commercial masts in the UK.  In recent years the commercial owners of these masts have ended the peppercorn rent agreements that Radio Amateurs enjoyed and have started to charge the full commercial rate for placing equipment such as repeaters and beacons on this type of mast.  At one point the RSGB entered into agreement with NTL to phase in these price increases and this agreement which has now ended was successful in allowing repeater keepers and beacon keepers the time to find alternative sites for their equipment.

The RSGB is not withdrawing funding for GB3VHF.  We were advised by the site owner that we could expect a significant fee increase during 2009 and it was because of this that the RSGB informed the keeper of GB3VHF that we would have to look at the level of subsidy that the Society provided in future years.  We also informed the keeper we would give any assistance we could in finding an alternative and more cost effective site.  We are also in discussions with the owners of the Wrotham site who have informed us that a notice period of six months would be required to close down and remove the equipment from the mast.  Given this the keeper of GB3VHF, with the assistance of the RSGB have until at least June 2009 to find an alternative site.

The RSGB is aware of the importance of the beacon network and will do everything it can for it to be maintained, however we cannot compete with commercial interests who are prepared to pay many thousands of pounds annually to site equipment on these commercial masts.  Inflating mast rental costs has hit all repeater and beacon groups in recent years and the longer term future has to be assured by moving all beacons and repeaters to less commercially attractive sites that still suits our purposes.