Joy as 'monstrous' 5G mast plans thrown out

Campaigners are overjoyed as plans to build a ‘bulky’ 5G mast in Tettenhall have been rejected following a public inquiry.

Telecommunications infrastructure company Cornerstone wanted to install a 20.6m monopole with 12 antennae, four dishes and ground equipment on the land of South Staffordshire Golf Club off Codsall Road.

Wolverhampton City Council’s planning officers had refused planning permission for the development as they felt it would have a detrimental impact to local residents. In an attempt to override the city council's refusal, Cornerstone appealed to the planning inspectorate.

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However planning inspector, L C Hughes, dismissed the appeal for several reasons. The inspector stated that the monopole and its headframe, due to its height and bulk, would appear as a stark, incongruous man-made feature within the landscape.

They said the installation would be visually intrusive, that it would tower above the trees and be especially apparent during the winter months when the trees are not in leaf.

The inspector stated that despite some screening from greenery, the development would be an eyesore for residents at 35 Codsall Road due to its scale and bulk.

L C Hughes said: “In these particular circumstances, the harm that I have identified would be so significant that it would not be outweighed by the need for the installation to be sited as proposed, even accounting for the absence of suitable alternatives.

“Whilst I note the government’s support for expansion of electronic communications networks, such equipment should also be sympathetically designed.”

Chair of the Tettenhall District Community Trust, Neal Kelshaw, said: “This is excellent news for the district and upholds both the character and policies of the neighbourhood plan.”