Plaque plea for site of maritime radio station

Highbridge's role in maritime radio cannot be marked with a new plaque because of land ownership issues.

- DANIEL MUMBY

Highbridge served as the receiving station for Portishead Radio Station, the world’s largest maritime radio station, until its closure in 2000.

When the station was demolished in 2007 and replaced with the Mulholland Park housing estate, a sum of money was set aside to fund a memorial to the station’s work.

But efforts to make this memorial a reality have hit the rocks as a result of a row over who should own the land in which the memorial shall be sited.

Larry Bennett, the former radio officer at Portishead Radio Station, raised the issue when Somerset Council held a full council meeting in Bridgwater on September 25.

He said: “The station housed the world’s largest Morse code operating room, with over 50 positions in operation at one time.

“At its peak, over 1,000 ships each day made contact with the station, by Morse code, radio-telephony, and radio telex.

“The site was demolished in 2007 and a housing estate known as Mulholland Park erected on the site.

“There was no thought as to the site's heritage and history, with all buildings and equipment totally destroyed.