Residents and local organisations are battling to prevent a 15m 5G Monopole and 6m run of cabinets up to 2m high being installed in a residential area on New Road, Impington.
52 public comments have so far been submitted to Greater Cambridge Planning raising concerns about a wide range of issues, but primarily its position alongside a footpath used daily by hundreds of students. One objector commented: “The location is in the middle of a busy pedestrian walk way, next to a bus stop where space is at a premium, at the head of a T junction, particularly hectic before and after school where narrowing the size of the walk way… only increases the risk of accidents.”
Objections
Another major objection is to the impact on the streetscape. Branded “an eyesore” by one local resident, the mast – also known as a ‘Monopole’ – would dwarf both residential properties and other features, including the fragile listed wall that encloses Impington Village College (IVC) land.
A number of people commented on the impact on the trees in the area, including the South Cambs District Council Trees Officer, who is “disappointed” with the planning application. She said: “The issues surrounding the above and below ground parts of trees, which have statutory protection, have not been addressed” and commented that no information had been provided about the impact on future tree pruning and management, or how the trees would be physically protected during the mast’s installation.
Some concerns have been raised about the physical and mental health impacts of 5G monopoles and the long-term effects of living or working near them – especially for the children at IVC and the new Cavendish School for autistic children, due to open soon. Similarly, the proximity to the Spire Lea hospital has prompted questions about how the installation could disrupt scanners and other hospital equipment.
Minor change
The planning applicant is CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd, which runs the mobile network ‘3 UK’. The company first submitted a planning application for an 18m Monopole in May but was rejected in July on many of the grounds raised by the community, including those by IVC, Spire, Histon & Impington Parish Council and District Councillor Steve Hunt.
In the company’s new application, the height of the pole is reduced to 15m but no other significant changes have been introduced. The company claims that its equipment “is considered unlikely to have any material impact on the local area but significant connectivity improvements”, and says this should be “a material consideration in the judgment of the site’s suitability.” It rejects comments about the inappropriate visual impact of the mast, saying the proposed location “benefits from screening provided by tall, mature trees and existing street furniture” which will help it “blend into the surrounding area, preventing it from appearing incongruous”.
The mast’s height was among several reason’s for planners rejecting the initial proposal and it was not the height alone that troubled residents. Steve Hunt tweeted: “Disappointing to see an (almost) repeat application with no apparent attempt to engage with the Parish Council/Community to find a more acceptable location. My response… is therefore also almost an exact repeat of the last one!”
The extent to which local residents could gain better mobile connectivity with the mast has been disputed by one resident. They claim that “5G won’t (initially at least?) reach indoors. Its much higher radio frequency (than 3G and 4G) has much lower range (c500 metres) and penetration – so won’t go through bricks and glass. It is designed to serve ‘open public spaces, railway concourses, sports stadia’ and the like.”
Another resident commented on the application being from a single network, and whether lowering its height could potentially reduce its coverage. “Why can’t this be on a shared aerial with other carriers? And, given the reduction in coverage coming from the drop to 15m, how many more will be needed.”
Alternatives?
Among those objecting to the new application are the Parish Council, which shares residents’ concerns and has objected to the revised application on the grounds that it fails to meet National Planning Policy.
Parish Council members have offered to work with developers to help find an appropriate location, and they acknowledge residents’ wish for any installations to be outside residential areas. Other sites proposed by objectors include the Guided Busway, around the Chivers factory, where there is already industrial development, and the business area Vision Park, which is also home to taller buildings.
One stumbling block to other locations could be the cost: a roadside installation would be cheaper for the network providers than private land, where they would have to pay the landowners to use their sites.
The closing date for objections and comments is now 24 September and these can be submitted online here. The planning application reference is 21/03731/PRI16A