Why Watford Parish Council Ditched Mobiles for Events

Watford Rural Parish Council has been serving the communities of South Oxhey and Carpenders Park in Hertfordshire since 1894. Representing a parish of nearly 21,000 residents just 14 miles from central London, the council organises a range of community services and events throughout the year... including their much-loved summer and winter community fetes, which bring together fairground rides, entertainment, market stalls, and hundreds of local residents.

The Challenge

Running a large-scale community event is no small feat. From the moment the gates open, the team are coordinating logistics across multiple areas simultaneously — directing stallholders and fairground operators to their pitches, managing car parking, handling lost children, responding to medical issues, monitoring food inventory, and keeping everything running smoothly as members of the public arrive in their hundreds.

Previously, the team relied on mobile phones to stay in contact. Anyone who has tried to coordinate a busy outdoor event on a mobile will know the limitations — calls that don't connect, networks that drop, and the constant fumbling for a phone mid-task. It simply wasn't good enough for a safety-critical, fast-moving event environment.

The Solution

Last year (November 2025) Watford Rural Parish Council ordered multiple Motorola XT420 walkie talkies with D-shaped earpieces from Radio Solutions ahead of their Christmas events season.

The XT420 is a licence-free PMR446 radio; no Ofcom licence required and no programming needed, making it straightforward to deploy across an event team of any size. With an IP55 weather resistance rating and Military Standard 810 certification, it's built to handle a full day outdoors in whatever the British weather decides to throw at it. The D-shaped earpieces allow staff to stay hands-free and discreet while remaining in constant contact across the event site.

The Result

The difference has been immediate. Staff can now communicate instantly across all areas of the event — from the entrance gates to the far corners of the site — without relying on mobile signal.

In the words of Gareth Williams, Clerk to the Council:

"On event days, the radios are used right from the start — amongst employees to oversee the logistics of event set up, then as event participants start arriving so we can communicate as to where to send them, parking availability, and so on. We stay in regular contact across the event areas; if we have any lost kids, medical issues, parking issues, food inventory running low — all kinds of things. These walkie talkies are invaluable."

Gareth rated the radios 5 out of 5 — and added one final, crucial use case:

"and I get told when my lunchtime burger is ready for collection!"

As the council's activities continue to grow beyond the fetes, the XT420 fleet is well-placed to support communication across their weekly Sunday market, community hall events, and the various open spaces they maintain across the parish.

Planning an Event This Winter?

Two-way radios are one of the most reliable tools you can have on an event day — no mobile signal required, instant communication, and hands-free operation when you need it most. Not sure which radios are right for your event? Call us on 01745 335811 or get in touch via our contact page.