Cardiff residents have slammed the near-identical re-submission of an application for the construction of a 5G mast as an "insult to people's intelligence", as the proposals are rejected for a second time. Cardiff Council has refused plans to construct the 15-metre high telecommunications pole at the entrance to Ael-y-Bryn estate in Llanedeyrn - just months after it rejected a previous application for an 18-metre mast in the exact same spot.
CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd, better known as Three, re-submitted the application on August 3 for prior approval for the now 15m high mast and three equipment cabinets around it.
Telecommunications proposals, such as mobile telephone masts, are considered to be permitted development under Welsh Government policy. This means that no planning permission is required to build them - but telecommunications companies must still make an application to see if their plans need prior approval. If an application does require prior approval, the local planning authority - in this case, Cardiff Council - is only able to assess its suitability in relation to the proposed location and the external appearance of the mast. You can get more Cardiff news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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The application cannot be refused unless it is deemed to have a ‘significant impact’ on the local area, and this impact cannot be mitigated. The council issued a decision notice on September 30 that prior approval was required due to the impact of the mast on the "locality, residential amenity and existing street trees" and did not approve the plans.
The council's reasons for refusing the plans echoed some of the concerns put forward by many local residents. Objections - 18 in total, with no comments in support of the plans - were submitted on Cardiff Council's website from August 18 until September 3. The council also notified the nearest residential properties of the proposal by letter and objections were received by 12 of those who were notified. A petition was also signed by 71 local residents.
Among the concerns raised by those objecting were the proximity to residential properties (the closest of which is just 2.2m from the base of the mast), highway safety issues, the impact on wildlife, the potential health risk for locals, and devaluation of adjacent properties.
People also took umbrage with the fact they felt the mast was unnecessary (with it being noted in planning documents that an existing mast was sited approximately 150m away on Circle Way West), while there were more worries about noise emitted from the development, the unsightly appearance of the mast, and the increase in vehicles servicing the equipment. You can read more stories about Cardiff here.
Many were concerned about the lack of consultation with the local community. However, in a supporting document, Three said it ran a pre-application consultation which invited comments within a two-week period, and through this it "identified the need to carefully consider the risk" of the impact of the mast on the visual amenity.
People also pointed out that the 15m mast was only a small improvement on Three's original application for the 18m mast. The city's Park Services department was also consulted and advised that the mast was essentially the same as the previous application, except that it was shorter and did not have a cabinet wrapped around the base. It still objected to this new proposal due to its impact on the highway tree and the fact no tree assessment had been submitted.
Leaving comments on Cardiff Council's website, Mr Jason Brooks wrote: "I cannot believe that this application has been re-submitted, shaving three metres off the height of the mast has made absolutely no difference to the neighbourhood objections! How can it even be considered to install this monstrosity in a residential area!"
He continued: "The location is completely inappropriate, sited at a busy road junction, and pretty much on the boundary of a residential property. The long-term health effects of these masts is still being investigated, and to site one in a residential area, on someone's door step is unacceptable.
"A 15 metre three cabinet installation is hardly enhancing the area aesthetically, and there are numerous better locations on Circle Way, such as the existing site opposite Cardiff Met entrance. It beggars belief that this location is even being considered, and I would like to strongly object to this on behalf of my family."
Miss Rebecca Adams commented: "We strongly object to the installation of the 5G mast, simply making it 3 metres shorter doesn't change the previous objections regarding the placement or the affects to our property (184 Ael y bryn) and the surrounding trees," while Miss Jill Williams said: "This has already been rejected! Putting in a new proposal reducing the height is just an insult to people's intelligence."
Councillor Joseph Carter, who represents the Pentwyn Ward, also submitted an objection on September 6, in which he said he was still opposed to the proposed mast despite the reduction in height. He wrote: "I believe the height is still negatively impacting 184 Ael Y Bryn, casting shadow and potentially undermining the property's foundations.
"I am concerned the cabinets create a blind spot for cars turning on this busy junction and infringe of the pavement. I recognise the benefit to my community of this technology but feel that there are other locations that would be better from a planning perspective."
Following the news of the second rejection, Cllr Carter told WalesOnline: "I'm very pleased to hear that the planning authority has recommended it be refused and has communicated that to the developer. I hope that this time - the second time round - that the developer does listen to the feedback and relocate these plans somewhere else, rather than come back a third time, which would show disrespect to the community and the planning authority."
A Three spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Cardiff. We are continuing to work to find viable and acceptable alternatives which will enable us to offer the community a reliable network experience.”
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