History
Pale Heights was the subject of planning applications in December 1974 and December 1975 and probably entered service during 1977. The site formed part of a route from Dublin via Holyhead, linking to the main UK network at Manchester. In the 1980s a new site was added at Fazakerley (Liverpool), providing a local spur to relieve cable routes and possibly to provide television links for Granada's studios in Liverpool. A 1980s network diagram suggests there was a link from Derby House - adjacent to the original studio. This may have run direct to Pale Heights but the details are unconfirmed. A further television link was provided for HTV's studio at Mold, the circuit routing via Manchester en-route to Cardiff.
In the mid 1980s a further new site was built at Llangollen, as part of a parallel route between Manchester and Birmingham. Pale Heights is identified in 1980s route maps as a "flexibiliy point" - meaning it may have been used to provide switching between alternative routes. As seen from the 2009 photo it appears the option to route traffic between Liverpool (Fazakerley) and Manchester (via Heaton Park) was retained after the other links had been withdrawn.
The tower is similar in style to those used for a new route in Cornwall, also built in the 1970s. The building is of the standard pattern; a further planning application was made in 1984 for an extension, presumably in connection with the new route via Llangollen.
