SECRET.
[Copy on] RC/31/15
POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, 20th March, 1941.

East Coast Transmitter.

The memorandum from the Chairman of the Wireless Telegraphy Board contains the following conclusions:

“The Service members of the Board and the B.B.C. agreed that Brookmans Park is the best available site for the new transmitter. Any alternative site would probably mean decreased coverage by day over Germany, or increase in vulnerability to enemy action, and considerable delay in bringing the station into being.”

“On the other hand, a decision to use Brookmans Park will mean that the Foreign Office station at Sandridge will have to be moved, that the Fighting Services interception stations will probably have to be moved, that St. Albans station and part of Dollis Hill station will have to be moved, and that provision must be made for an alternative station to Baldock.”

The Chairman's report estimates that the cost of moving the necessary Post Office stations will be of the order of £300,000, not including provision of the extra land line communications involved.

The Post Office have put in a separate memorandum in which the total cost of the necessary Post Office changes is estimated at £600,000.

In a covering letter of March 18th to me the Chairman says:

“The problem of finding a site for this new station was referred by your Committee to the Wireless Telegraphy Board. It was found impossible to obtain agreement at that meeting, and these two memoranda set forth in detail the difficulties to be encountered and the arguments used at that discussion.

The question has reached a deadlock, and it appears as if a Cabinet decision will be required. It is understood that it is intended for this matter to be taken up to the Cabinet, and that the necessary action for this will be initiated by your Minister.”

Copies of both memoranda are available.

Initialled N.G.S.

March 19th, 1941.