The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Over 100 people have signed a petition against a 20-metre high mast transmitting 5G phone signal being erected in Spalding’s Wygate Park.
A planning application for the structure and cabinet at its base, to be built on the corner of Claudette Way and Wygate Park, has been submitted by the telecoms company Three.
Documents submitted with the application state that “there is an acute need” for the service in the area as phone companies upgrade their signals from the 4G currently available in Spalding.
“There is now a requirement to upgrade the UK H3G (Three) network to provide improved coverage and capacity, most notably in relation to 5G services,” the documents state. “Options are extremely limited and the only viable solution that minimises amenity issues has been put forward.”
Three claims in the report the mast is the lowest it could be for the radio waves 5G uses and that “the proposed equipment has been strategically sited in order to minimise the number of residential properties overlooking the site”.
The mast, which would include a one-metre wide part at the top, would be within yards of Geraldine Nicholls’ Claudette Avenue home.
“It’s going to be horrendous and people are up in arms about it,” she said.
“It’s going to completely over-shadow everything.
“People are not happy with where it’s being placed and it’s a complete eye-sore.
“Surely they could put it somewhere else.”
Both district councillors Roger Gambba-Jones and Christine Lawton have objected to the proposal.
The latter said: “Whilst supporting modernisation of the technology we all use and need, it cannot be right that this necessary infrastructure can be imposed on a residential neighbourhood with little consultation and an assurance that this is the only suitable location.”
Leaflets have also been put through the doors of local residents expressing concern about the height while also stating “there are potential health fears associated with the new generation of phone masts”.
The 5G masts, have been subject to conspiracy theories over their effects on health but have been passed safe by scientists and associations including the World Health Organisation, Public Health England and the UK Health Protection.
Three’s application states: “This equipment is considered unlikely to have any material impact on the local area but significant connectivity improvements which is a material consideration in the judgment of the site’s suitability.”
