Council opposes 5G mast due to impact on recreation ground

PLANS to install a 5G mast in a Henley recreation ground have been recommended for refusal by the town council.

The telecoms company EE wants to install a 20m monopole in the corner of Makins recreation ground, off Greys Road.

It would support mobile 5G networks and provide high-speed wireless connectivity.

Talent Technology Services, on behalf of EE, said the mast is needed to address a gap in EE coverage and increase network capacity to the town.

EE has a mast on St Mary’s Church in Hart Street but it cannot be upgraded due to the roof being unable to support the new equipment.

The company had also looked at Townlands Memorial Hospital in York Road, Henley Fire Station in West Street and Cedar House in Ancastle Green but Makins is its preferred option.

But the town council, which owns the recreation ground, said that other “more suitable” sites had not been “fully considered”.

About 30 residents have lodged complaints with South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, claiming the mast would impact biodiversity and people’s health and wellbeing.

Concerns were also raised at a meeting of the town council’s planning committee on Tuesday last week.

Louise Dodd, of Harcourt Close in Henley, said: “The site is designated as a local green space in the Neighbourhood Plan and therefore has similar protection as a greenbelt.

“Any such development should not impact on the openness of the area. Being located on the highest point of Makins, the mast will be visually intrusive from the whole of the recreation ground. Its appearance will be at odds with the character of the area.”

Mrs Dodd added there were “less sensitive locations” for the mast including Jewsons car park in Reading Road, the station car park, operated by Vodafone, the site at the back of the post office, operated by EE and the fire station in West Street.

She said: “Government guidance states that telecoms operators should share masts and sites in order to reduce the proliferation of masts and equipment. EE has ignored this advice.” Charlotte Wolfe, who lives in the Gainsborough estate, has launched a petition against the mast which received 248 signatures.

She told the meeting: “I know that you have to let them do it but I would really ask you to do that begrudgingly. Please don’t let them do this to the recreation ground. It’s not fair.”

Mayor Rory Hunt said Henley fire station would be a more suitable location for the mast.

He said: “There is no reason why they couldn’t have it there rather than taking away public green space that’s very close to residents and would have a significant visual impact.”

Councillor Laurence Plant said that until all other options have been considered the council should not support the development.

Councillor Gill Dodds agreed. She said: “I thought the fire station was always a better location. Townlands Memorial Hospital was a particularly good one, or up at Cedar House.

“There is a lot of other sites and I think we need to voice our thoughts on this.”

Councillor Michelle Thomas said they were not objecting to the mast but to the location. She said: “They need to explain why they have discounted these other sites. They do need to follow the pre-application advice that they’ve received very clearly from the authority.

“It is needed in this town. The reason it has come about is because they have received so many customer complaints. We’re not objecting to the 5G mast, we just think, ‘Please don’t put it in a huge, open green space’.”

Henley Town Council rejected a similar proposal from EE to use the recreation ground in July last year.

But in November, after receiving legal advice about the risk of a costly tribunal, the council agreed to new proposals following a review of the pre-planning application plans.

At a full council meeting earlier this month, town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward said they had “very little powers” as a landowner over the application.

He said: “The legal advice that we received was that, if we rejected it, they would take us to tribunal and, under the current legislation, they would win.”

A final decision will be made by the district council by February 9.