The Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group (MCBARG) provide radio facilities for other community support groups like Cornwall Search and Rescue Team, St Austell Air Training Corps, universities specializing in radio research and local licensed radio amateurs. Their facilities are licensed by OFCOM and can be used by the Radio Amateur Emergency Network (RAYNET) and are available for use in times of National Emergency. Equipment to support these activities is run from a site and mast on Hensbarrow Downs and, of course, consumes electrical power.
The group, consisting mainly of volunteer retired engineers, receives no public funds and rely entirely on donations and fund raising events to maintain the facilities and pay the electricity bills. Electricity has become the group’s largest expenditure and so they have made a bid for funding for a Solar Energy Project from the M&S Energy Community Fund. This would enable them to fit Solar Panels and reduce their electricity bill to almost zero. The donations they receive from their supporters could then be used to update and modernize their equipment. The group looks forward to the day when their energy needs are subsidised by the use of Solar PV. They can then concentrate their efforts and limited funds on what they do best for our community.
The group has the support of local Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay, Steve Double, who said:
"I applaud the efforts of the hardworking volunteers who have gone out of their way to devote their valuable time and resources to maintaining their mast, particularly given the reliance of the Cornwall Search and Rescue Team and the Air Training Corps on their coverage."
"I endorse the Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group’s bid for funding and hope as many of you as possible can vote for them to ensure they are able to maintain their valuable resource."
Their project has been shortlisted by M&S Energy for the Cornwall area, but they now need the public to vote for their project, because the project with the most votes will get the funding.
You can vote for them at : https://www.mandsenergyfund.com/project/28482/ (You have to register your email address and use a password consisting of upper and lower case letters and numbers . You can vote until the 30th September).
There is also a link to vote via their website: www.gb3nc.org.uk
Please vote for the Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group.