History
The SHF installation at Maidstone related to the nearby television studios used by TVS from 1982 to 1992 and subsequently by Meridian. A planning application in February 1982 sought approval for a single 2 m dish mounted on the roof of the telephone exchange - the documents confirm this was to face Fairseat (the vision circuits continuting to/from the studios via cable) and operate in the Upper 6 GHz band. The option of linking directly from the studios had been ruled out since a tall tower would have been required rather than a rooftop dish. From Fairseat the links continued via the established routes to BT Tower and the Dover transmitter. There were five studios at Maidstone and the circuit provision appears to have been sufficient to allow simultaneous output of different programmes to "Network" and the TVS tramsmitters. The option to insert separate advertisments for the eastern part of the region was potentially available.
Curiously a second planning application was made at the end of September 1982, seeking permission for a second 2 m dish facing Fairseat, this time on the 2 GHz band, and a 0.6 m dish facing Bluebell Hill, operating on 6 GHz. This addition was to be on a "temporary" basis. It is possible this was an interim link for the TVS studio at Gillingham , running via the broadcast site at Blubell Hill.
The mounting for one dish remained in place as of 2018 - the exchange building does not appear to have been suitable for mobile phone coverage (other, taller, buildings exist nearby) and therefore it seems there was no need to re-use the rooftop space for other purposes.
[Planning references, Maidstone Borough Council: 82/0164 and 82/1370]
