Furious residents have hit out after an enormous 6G mast was installed near their homes - branding it a ‘monstrosity’ and raising concerns about the levels of radiation it might emit. The towering 15m metal structure has been installed at Lymm Walk, in Cheadle, much to the shock and anger of people living in the quiet residential area, many of whom are retired.
Its appearance has also come as a surprise to Stockport council which has written to the telecommunications firm responsible - IX Wireless - demanding answers to its ‘precise’ purpose as well as further ‘plans and details’. A notice stuck to the base of the ‘fibre pole’ says it is for the purposes of IX Wireless network. It adds that residents have a right to object if ‘the enjoyment of that neighbouring land is capable of being prejudiced by the apparatus’ or ‘any interest in the land is capable of being compromised’.
The Blackburn based company's website boasts that it is is 'managing the 6G internet in towns in the north of England, providing gigabit internet at lower prices than providers such as Virgin and BT'. But people living at Lymm Walk, which is just off Tarvin Road, are furious they were not consulted before it went up - and want the mast moved elsewhere.
READ MORE : Residents shocked after council gaffe meant 'ugly' 20m 5G phone mast was put up 'right in their faces'
Ryan Keighron told the Local Democracy Reporting Service its installation had come as ‘a big shock’. “I was away for a couple of days and came back - and as soon as I turned the corner I saw it,” he said: “It’s an eyesore, you can see it from my living room window as well.
“I have a young son, I’m worried about the radiation coming off it. His bedroom is at the front, I think it’s too close to the properties to be honest with you.” The 33-year-old greenkeeper is also worried that the mast will devalue homes and that the frequencies and radiation it emits could ‘pose a health risk to our children, whose bedrooms are no more than 20 yards away from this monstrosity’.
His neighbour, Derek Atkin 78, took a similar view - also branding it an ‘eyesore’ and a’ danger to young children’. He is also angry that people were not given ‘proper notice’ that the mast was going to be installed.
Derek’s wife Veronica Atkin, 70 says sticking an A4-size notice on a nearby lamppost declaring the arrival of ‘ultra fast gigabyte-capable broadband’ was not good enough. “We didn’t have the option, they just said they were going up, we should have had a letter individually, or at least come to the door,” she said.
Meanwhile Iona Cookson - at 91 believed to be the estate's oldest resident - branded the mast 'an absolute eyesore, a monstrosity'.And Denise Roof described the installation as ‘disgusting’.
“I just think it’s dreadful,” the 72-year-old said. “It was a shock when I saw it. I said to the men who were doing it ‘I’m not happy with that’, but they said ‘don’t blame us’.
She continued: “We work hard all our lives to pay for our own house and get a really nice view outside. Then you get to your retirement, you have time on your hands, and you have got this. I don’t think they would put it on a private property, it’s because this is a council estate.”
Other parents also shared Ryan’s misgivings about the possible risk to their children’s health. “We are not happy with this. What about the radiation?” said Abdul Khan a 41-year-old taxi driver.
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"I have two children, they were always playing out here. My children are afraid of it." Market worker Mohammed Ahmad, who has three young children, agreed. “It's a big problem,” he said.
The council has been about IX Wireless plans for additional wooden telegraph poles at nearby Malpas Close - and objected to these on the grounds they would narrow the pavement too much. A letter seen by the LDRS recommends considering ‘alternative locations’, adding that permission must be obtained from the council before any installation and/or digging up of the public road.
However, it is the 15 metre mast that is clearly of most concern to council planning bosses. The letter continues: “The council is aware of the recent installation of a metal mast on Malpas Close, which is understood to be 15 metres in height.
“For the avoidance of doubt this installation has not been assessed under this notification and the mast has been installed without prior notification to the council as the Local Planning Authority. You have been asked to provide clarification as to precisely what the purpose of this structure is, as well as plans and details, and we request this within the next seven working days.”
Councillor David Meller, who represents people in this part of Cheadle, is calling for the mast to be moved to a more suitable location - following consultation with the public. “When I first saw this mast, pole - whatever it is - I wondered what went through the minds of the company that put it up.
"Surely they could see this monstrosity wasn’t going to be acceptable to people right outside their houses?” he said. "It’s been a protracted situation in finding out if they had permission to put this thing here and the fact they didn’t even notify the council and consult residents is incredibly unacceptable.”
He continued: “I appreciate we absolutely need 21st century communications - I’m never off my phone or the internet - and their claim to provide top-of-the-line internet free to some underprivileged groups is noble. But the impact on people’s day-to-day lives of this structure really isn’t fair and for me, it really should come down and a more suitable location - if there is one - found, with residents and the council properly consulted first.”
At the time of writing neither IX Wireless or Stockport council had responded to a request for a comment and further information about the pole.
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