Residents have told of their shock after an ‘eyesore’ 5G mast was suddenly installed behind their homes under the cover of darkness – after a council forgot to put up construction notices.
Workmen arrived at 10pm to begin installing the 50ft high structure just yards from the garden gates – with residents only becoming aware of what was happening when the floodlights were switched on and the machines started humming.
The angry householders of Eden Close in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, complained that the council’s failure to comment on the proposed mast meant they had no chance of objecting to its installation until it was too late.
Debbie Feasey, whose house is one of the closest to the building, said: ‘I used to look out and see trees behind my house. Now the view is dominated by this monstrosity.
“The mast sticks out above the houses and when I look out my kitchen window I can’t even see the top because it’s so high.”
Debbie Feasey (pictured), 60, whose house is one of the closest to the structure, said Shropshire council has not issued any notice of planning application to install the mast
The angry householders of Eden Close in Shrewsbury, Shropshire have protested the mainmast. In the photo: An angry resident poses in a garden in front of the main mast
Workmen arrived at 10 p.m. on March 13 to begin installing the 50-foot (16 m) structure just yards from the garden gates
The mast was installed over four nights from March 13 in a grass verge next to Robertson Way, a main road behind the row of trees behind her garden.
Ms Feasey, a 60-year-old compliance officer, and husband Simon, 62, an NHS manager, said Shropshire Council had apologized to residents for its oversight in failing to post notices on the planning application to install the mast. But Ms Feasey added: ‘This is a small consolation for us now.
“Had we been notified in advance, we could have staged a protest before the mast went up and wrote a letter to the council to object.
“As it was, the first thing we knew about it was when the workmen showed up at 10pm. When we heard the sound and looked outside, we couldn’t believe what we saw.’
She added, “We appreciate the need for masts, but surely they can be placed in a less sensitive location than at the end of someone’s yard?”
Residents say the mast could create a crash risk on the 50 mph road if distracted drivers take their eyes off the road to investigate.
And they denounced the lack of ‘any involvement or consultation’ from the council or CK Hutchison Networks UK Ltd, owner of mobile network Three.
The installation, which was to replace a previously approved design for a mast at another location in the city, was considered a permitted development.
Angry residents protested after installation of an ‘eyesore’ 5G mast suddenly installed behind their homes in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Residents say the mast could create a crash risk on the 50 mph road if distracted drivers take their eyes off the road to investigate
But an application was made to the council to assess whether its pre-approval was needed regarding the placement and appearance of the giant structure and the ‘enclosing box at the base and associated supporting works’.
Shrewsbury City Council was consulted on the proposal to place the mast on the perimeter next to Robertson Way, but made no objection. Shropshire Council then decided that no prior approval was required for the new mast site before work could begin.
Last week, residents gathered next to the communications tower to protest the eyesore, dwarfing the lampposts it stands among.
Jane Francis, whose home also borders the installation site, said: ‘Everyone on the estate is outraged by the underhanded tactics and how this came about.
“No letters or signs were placed on lampposts during the planning process and absolutely no attempt was made to engage with the community or understand our feelings. To show their contempt for us even more, they installed it late at night.”
A third resident, Craig Porter, a 51-year-old painter and decorator, adds: ‘Raising a 16-metre mast within a few meters of our garden fence without consultation is not good.
The installation, which was to replace a previously approved design for a mast at another location in the city, was considered a permitted development
The transmission tower has been placed in front of Eden Close in Shrewsbury, Shropshire (pictured)
“Not only does it devalue our homes, but there’s also the concern about radiation.”
The outrage from Shrewsbury’s neighbors comes six months after residents of the village of Balderstone, Rochdale, were similarly upset after returning home from work to find a ‘missile’ sized 5G mast towering over their cul-de-sac.
Furious residents protest 50-foot broadband mast erected by one outside their homes that ‘looks like a horrifying rocket launcher’
Richard Marshall, cabinet member of Shropshire Council for highways and regulatory services, said: ‘Poles 15 meters high do not need permission from the local planning authority.
‘The mast on Robertson Way required prior approval as it is 16 meters high. Approval had previously been granted for a nearby mast and the applicant considered this to be a better alternative position to provide connectivity.
‘As part of the pre-approval process, Shrewsbury City Council and local councilors were notified and no objections or concerns were raised, and the City Council confirmed this in writing.
“A site notice should have been posted in Robertson Way, but this was not done, for which we apologise. The legislation is complex in this area, but procedures are in place to ensure that such notice is made in the future.
“The applicant is also expected to consult with the community and conduct pre-application engagement, but this does not appear to have happened.
‘If the applicant chooses to set up the mast at night, then that is his own decision and the municipality has no say in this. ‘
He said there was a ‘need to put in place a digital infrastructure’ but said the authority would ‘contact the applicant to see if there is any possibility of mitigating the impact from the point of view of the immediate residents. Reduce’.
CK Hutchison Networks was contacted for comment.
Shropshire Council decided that no prior approval was required for the new mast site before work could begin
Debbie Feasey (pictured) said: ‘I used to look outside and see trees behind my house. Now the view is dominated by this monstrosity
A spokesperson for Three said: ‘5G roll-out is vital for Shrewsbury residents and businesses. We want to provide the community with a reliable networking experience and a new site is essential to make that happen.
Masts need to be placed where people will use the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest coverage.
“We do extensive research and evaluate a wide range of options before submitting a planning application.
“In this case, Three consulted Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Town Council and Severndale Academy before submitting the planning application, but we have received no response.”