CHEDWORTH residents say they feel let down by a company tasked with installing a phone mast in the village, which failed to materialise.

As part of £150million Government scheme, the mobile phone mast was set to be erected in Chedworth to improve coverage.

The company contracted to carry out the work, Arqiva, began investigating siting the mast off Fields Road which prompted objections from residents who thought the location was unsuitable.

But the project was axed this summer when the Government announced that projects which had not reached the planning stage by August 14 would not receive funding.

Campaigners say Arqiva could have been in a position to submit plans earlier if it had spent more time investigating an alternative site at Stowell Park Estate.

Paul Hodgkinson, chairman of the county council’s Gloucestershire economic growth scrutiny committee said: “They didn’t try to pursue another site, they were only looking at one. We were all asking them to look at one or two alternatives.”

Cllr Hodgkinson explained that in April plans for the mast in Fields Road were discussed at a presentation at Chedworth Village Hall.

He said: “They knew in April that Fields Road was controversial, at that point people were suggesting they should look at other sites. Most concerning is that they did not communicate with residents.”

The Hill and Valley Digital Team (HVDT), which has also been campaigning for improved mobile phone coverage, said that following the meeting in April, it was suggested that Arqiva examine Stowell Park Estate as the agent for the estate Richard Bradford was open to the plans.

HVDT member and Chedworth parish councillor Adrian Bell said Arqiva failed to arrange a meeting with Mr Bradford and had ‘dragged their heels’.

He said: “As a community we feel let down that we haven’t been respected; that our request hasn’t been respected.”

A spokesman for Arqiva, said: “Arqiva can confirm that it has communicated to various local resident representatives about the reasons it is unable to complete this project.

“To be at the stage to submit a planning application for a site takes time and it is an incredibly complex process. You need a landowner who is willing to make the site available for 20 years; you also need to prove that you can get 4G capable back haul to connect to the site.

“Arqiva regrets that it was unable to complete this process and submit a planning application for Fields Road or Stowell Park Estate in time to bring the project to a successful conclusion.”