5G mast plans rejected

TWO planning applications for 5G masts in Caversham have been turned down following opposition by residents.

Reading Borough Council have refused a proposal by Three UK to install a 15m pole in Kidmore Road and an 18m mast in Henley Road.

Planning officer Beatrice Malama said the masts would detract from the visual amenity of the areas and that both applications had failed to demonstrate that there were no alternative locations.

The pole in Kidmore Road would be located near Charlotte Close.

The council received about 40 objections from residents complaining it would be out of character with the residential street and would block sight lines for drivers. 

The pole in Henley Road would be located opposite the junction with Donegal Close on the pavement outside Queen Anne’s School.

Thirteen objections were made by residents who described the pole as an “eyesore” and a “blot in the landscape”.

Reading East MP Matt Rodda wrote to the council urging it to refuse planning permission.

He described the mast as “the latest in a series of visually intrusive proposals”.

A spokeswoman for Three UK said the company would consider the reasons for the refusals and think about its options.

She said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Caversham.

“We want to offer the area a great network experience and our planners determined that these new sites were required to deliver it.

“While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they do need to be situated near to where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.”