BUSINESSES could be impacted, say concerned residents, after plans to replace an existing 3G mast with a larger 5G structure directly outside a Poole restaurant were submitted.
Three UK and EE have unveiled proposals to erect a 20m (65ft) 5G mast on the pavement directly outside Koh Thai Tapas restaurant in Sandbanks Road in Lilliput.
If approved, it would replace an existing 12m 3G mast situated at the junction of Sandbanks Road and Dorset Lake Avenue.
Its proposed siting would be located directly in front of Koh Thai’s outside seating area and this was among several main issues of contention for residents and business owners who have already lodged objections just days into the application.
Jane Naden, who owns the salon next door to the tapas restaurant, said: “Customers sitting at tables will be sat within 1.3 metres of the 5G mast and the outlook from the restaurant window will be of a giant mast.
“The area that will be left to safely walk if the mast is erected is not quite the 1.2 metres required, due to the Koh Thai street dining area on the pavement. Mothers and babies will have to scrape by the huge mast to walk up and down Sandbanks Road.
“This is an absolute eyesore to the Lilliput landscape.”
Another resident said: “It is ugly [and] huge. It is right outside a restaurant with outdoor seating, it will affect businesses and property values.”
Mr Philip Hilliar added: “There must be more appropriate locations, [for example] on top of existing high buildings. A local example of this is similar equipment on top of the old telephone exchange in Canford Cliffs. This proposal has been submitted as the easy option with no consideration of its impact.”
According to Three UK and EE’s application the location had been “identified as being necessary for EE Ltd business development and meets its specific technical and operational requirements”.
The application was submitted under ‘Prior Approval’ parameters. This means if the application meets development criteria it will be approved, unless it can be proven that there is genuine harm attached to installation. Devaluation of property and supposed health risks are not considered valid reasons for objection.
This comes after six consecutive 5G mast applications for Poole were rejected within two days by BCP Council who cited their “unduly obtrusive visual impact”.
The 5G mast approval rate in the BCP region is three times less than the national average.
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