‘NIMBYS’ WIN FIGHT AGAINST 5G MAST

PLANS to install a 5G telecoms mast on a recreation ground in Henley have been rejected.

But a former town Mayor has called the decision a “massive disappointment” and a victory for “Nimbys”.

Kellie Hinton said: “I’m not saying that we should concrete over all our green spaces but where there are places that are suitable, we should be putting in masts.”

She was speaking after South Oxfordshire District Council refused proposals by EE to install the 20m high monopole in a corner of Makins recreation ground, off Greys Road.

Telent Technology Services, on behalf of EE, submitted the application for the mast, which would provide 5G mobile networks and improve high-speed wireless connectivity, in December.

The installation would have included six antennae, two dishes and four equipment cabinets.

EE said the mast was needed to “address a gap in coverage and network capacity” and that its existing mast on St Mary’s Church in Hart Street couldn’t be upgraded as the roof wouldn’t support the new equipment. During consultation last month, more than 50 objections were received, including one from Henley Town Council’s planning committee.

The council, which owns the land, had already rejected a proposal by EE last summer to use the site.

Residents raised concerns about the mast’s impact on surrounding properties and the recreational ground and claimed the company had not properly considered more suitable locations.

The district council, the planning authority, says the mast would have been “visually intrusive” in its current location. In a decision notice, head of planning Adrian Duffield said: “It’s located in an elevated and visually prominent position within a designated Local Green Space.

“The proposed development, due to its siting and height, would be visually intrusive and incongruous and would detract from the character and appearance of the site and its surroundings and the amenity of adjacent residential occupiers and users of the Makins recreation ground.

“This identified harm is not outweighed by the need to locate the mast in this location as it is considered that the use of alternative sites has not been fully explored or evidenced.”

Mr Duffield added that the application conflicted with his council’s local plan and the joint Henley and Harpsden neighbourhood plan as well as the National Planning Policy Framework.

Councillor Hinton, a member of the town and district council, said Henley needed more telecommunications infrastructure.

“Anything is the right location,” she said. “They used to hide them in telephone boxes, so you didn’t even know they were there. They put them on top of the church.

“I appreciate that this one is a little bit more obvious but there is one up at the ‘Top Shops’. It’s a big green one and it looks just like a lamp-post. In fact, it looks better than a lamp-post because it’s green.

“You can put anything you want anywhere you like as long as it’s sympathetic to the surroundings.

“This is just a bunch of Nimbys and a bunch of crackpot wannabe scientists who want me to have a bad phone signal, it seems.

“And in case anyone forgot, until we turned around Makins recreation ground and made it the absolutely stunning area that it is now for recreation, it was a landfill site, which is a lot worse than a phone mast.

“They should think themselves lucky that we’re not turning it back into that and instead giving us all the phone signal that we need.”

Cllr Hinton said she was fed up with the network connections, particularly during major events such as Henley Royal Regatta.

She said: “Technology keeps improving and because I’m not a dinosaur and I am actually on the light side of 40, I would actually like to get a telephone signal sometimes and it’s really annoying me that 5G in Henley sucks.

“Every time you come in and out of the town, your phone is messed up and you go straight through to voicemail. In case everyone forgot, we have a couple of events in Henley where hundreds of thousands of people come to the town.

“And guess what they use when they come here — mobile technology. When they come I couldn’t even phone my next-door neighbour. We’ve already got phone masts at the fire station, on the church and at the Top Shops. It’s not a case of we need to find somewhere instead of this, it’s we need to find somewhere as well as this.”

Fellow town councillor Ian Reissmann said he agreed with Cllr Hinton that Henley needed better 5G but Makins was not the most suitable site.

He said: “I think anyone who tries to use mobile data in Henley is aware of the problems. We need the technology as so much is done online now and the service in Henley is poor. The site itself is not disastrous but there were some planning concerns and I think other sites should be explored. If they are viable I don’t see why they can’t be used but if they are not viable than it may be that we will have to admit this is the only option and reluctantly agree that it’s right.

“If the company can show that there is not anywhere else to put this 5G mast, we would lose an appeal if planning permission was refused, which of course may happen The council is still against it on the basis that there are alternative sites which haven’t been investigated, the fire station and Townlands Hospital, for example.”

Am EE spokesman said: “Reliable mobile connectivity is needed and wanted by residents, businesses and the emergency services but this is only possible if the right infrastructure is in place

“While we always seek to minimise visual impact when we’re looking to build new masts or upgrade equipment, we note the council’s decision and are reviewing our options.”

The company is said to have explored more than 30 other locations.