A mobile phone firm has won the right to put up a 5G mast near schools and a busy crossroads.
The company, Cornerstone, notified Brighton and Hove City Council of its plans but hundreds of people objected and the proposal was rejected.
Now, after a planning appeal, the phone infrastructure firm, which works with the likes of Vodafone and 3, can put up the 66ft (20-metre) mast by the corner of Dyke Road and The Upper Drive, Hove.
Hundreds of students pass through the area each day on their way to and from, among others, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Stanford Infant School, Stanford Junior School and BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove And Sussex VI Form College).
When the council turned down the plans last June, it said that the location was in the “green gateway” to Brighton and Hove and the mast would create “visual clutter”.
Cornerstone submitted 41 documents to the independent Planning Inspectorate, with examples of similar appeals.
The company said that there was a need to put up a 5G mast and associated cabinets in the area to ensure an improved high-speed network.
The main alternative, upgrading masts at the nearby Quebec Barracks, in Dyke Road, Brighton, was deemed impossible because there was too little space on the roof.
Planning inspector Jeremy Heppell said that the mast would not make the street cluttered, citing lampposts and a CCTV pole there already, but its height would affect street views and harm the character of the area.
He accepted that Cornerstone had carried out an extensive search to find an alternative location – and that a ground-based mast was not suitable.
Mr Heppell said: “The proposal would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area but would result in the provision of an enhanced telecommunication network.
“Given the need for the installation to be sited as proposed and the absence of suitable alternatives, I find that the harm to the character and appearance of the area is outweighed by the public benefits of providing an efficient and reliable telecommunication infrastructure.”
Neighbours set up a petition objecting to the mast. It garnered 282 signatures. A further 55 people wrote to the council with their objections.
One of the petition organisers, Jez Pegg, was disappointed with the decision which he said showed how the telecommunication company’s needs made an appeal “pointless”.
He said: “An unbelievably bad decision, frankly, for both local residents and the city itself. The council were right to reject the original application in my view.
“So extremely disappointed and indeed surprised at this outcome, given the opposition.”
Independent councillor Samer Bagaeen, who represents Westdene and Hove Park ward on the council, had twice objected to another application at the nearby Park Lodge flats. He was also disappointed by the decision.
Councillor Bagaeen said: “I am naturally very disappointed by this outcome and even more disappointed in the approach of the telecoms providers and their agents which care very little for locality and people.”
Conservative councillor Ivan Lyons, who also represents the ward, said: “While residents understand that masts are needed to improve telecom communications, the public rightfully request that standalone poles should be a last resort and mobile phone masts should, ideally, be shared by companies.”
Can we please please pretty please with a cherry on top get a mast down the bottom of elm grove and another near st peters, the phone signal is shocking and mobile internet is nearly non existent.
Just remembered COVID escalated from a Chinese chemical weapons lab and was not caused by phone masts lol
@Dean – I researched the internets and it says that Covid is when they injected the little control chips into you from the vaccines. And they use the 5Gs to tell you what to think. This is why you posted such a positive post about getting decent phone coverage. You need one of these tinfoil hats to keep you safe.
(Some of the above post may be for comedy purposes…)
Due to your posting the price of tinfoil is reaching dizzy heights, almost enough to speculate on
Ahhh that’s why the price of tin, gold and silver is at record levels
@stan – I’m fine. I have 1000 rolls stashed in the bunker. You have to prepare for these things. Once that price gets high enough I’ll sell a few on Ebay.
And the 5G signal will be great for navigating the website!
Have Cornerstone answered the following questions before these unsightly installations are allowed to ruin views all over the city.
Where does the liability lie just in case kids, teachers and nearby residents do start getting sick after these things go up?
How will they impact on property values?
Are they compliant with the full removal of Huawei technology? https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huawei-to-be-removed-from-uk-5g-networks-by-2027?
There is no evidence of 5G causing harm to people. What ‘sickness’ are you suggesting will befall people?
You are more likely to be harmed by trying to climb a mast and falling off and breaking your arm or for a mast to fall over onto you and break your leg. The former would be down to you and the latter an almost zero probability.
Properties that have good access to 5g are more then likely to experience a price increase rather than a fall. But things like a lack of maintenance etc will have a bigger impact on prices.
I’m sure that Cornerstone is fully compliant with all UK regulations.
Can’t BHASVIC incorporate it into their proposed floodlights just down the road? Just saying…..
No because to ensure comprensive coverage these masts need to be in fairly specific locations.
Rather like your router at home has an optimal location to make sure the wifi covers all the rooms but if you move it a couple of feet the wi-fi signal can drop in some locations
Let’s face it 5G masts look ugly and industrial and only detract from the visual impact of their location. Who would choose one to look at? The locals no doubt have wifi and don’t need the service so the only real benefit is the company and their profits which as always talks louder than the locals voices. I sympathise with them and everyone whose sight it impairs and they pass it. Couldn’t they at least disguise it as tree or similar as others have done.
They could draw a helmet on the top and put two round bushes at the bottom of you like. If it really does matter that much go paint it green one night
@steve – “The locals no doubt have wifi” so if you are walking in the area, or a parent picking up a kid at the school, where are they getting their wifi? I know some never leave their home bunker as they are busy keeping up on the conspiracy news, but some people get out in the outside world and actually walk places.
If you install more masts, then they can run at lower power as they don’t have to fill in as much. I have a mate who dropped their cable based broadband and uses a 4G router. They are looking forward to the day that bumps up to 5G
As we are all predominantly anti vaxxers in Brighton and Hove, we all believe that 5g caused most of the deaths and COVID didn’t actually exist.