Groby telcom masts

Shorter telecom mast is a trojan horse

October 2022 Following the refusal of permission for a new 5G telecom mast opposite the College Campus on Ratby Road, the telecom company that provides the Three network has submitted a new application for the same site.

The original proposal was rejected by the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, who said that “It is considered that the development would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area by virtue of the height of mast and its visual dominance to the street scene. The proposal would introduce an incongruous form within the domestic street scene. It is considered the harm is not outweighed by the public benefit of improved telecommunications.”

The latest application does nothing to address the street scene issue other than to trim 3 metres off the height, and Groby Parish Council has been advised by County and Borough councillors that the street scene impact should form the main thrust of the objection to the new application. Members were warned that if a 15 metre mast is approved it is unlikely that it would be installed as it could be upgraded to a taller mast without further permission. It would effectively be a trojan horse, providing a way of bringing a taller mast into the community against the wishes of most residents. The Parish Council is objecting to the proposal and residents were asked to register their individual objections with the Borough Council planning office by 1 November.

November 1st deadline for new mast objections

Could telecom industry merger mean more 5G masts?

October 2022 The news that the Borough Council has refused permission for a new 5G telecom mast opposite the College Campus on Ratby Road has been welcomed by most residents.

The Council decided that “It is considered that the development would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area by virtue of the height of mast and its visual dominance to the street scene. The proposal would introduce an incongruous form within the domestic street scene.”

This is the second refusal that Three has experienced locally within 14 months, but some feel that is a finger in the dam, holding back a torrent of unwanted telecom applications.

Earlier this year the Government updated the rules and increased the size of masts that are allowed under permitted development. This includes installing new masts of up to 30m in height above ground level on unprotected land, or 25m on protected land, such as land within a conservation area or site of special scientific interest.

In recent years, CK Hutchison (the parent company of Three UK), and Vodafone, have been thought of as potential candidates for a merger. This month they have confirmed they will create Britain’s biggest mobile operator if they merge, with over 27 million customers. Any merger would probably have to be approved by the Competition and Markets Authority.

“By combining our businesses, Vodafone UK and Three UK will gain the necessary scale to be able to accelerate the rollout of full 5G in the UK and expand broadband connectivity to rural communities and small businesses,” explained Nick Read, the chief executive of Vodafone.

A pledge to accelerate the roll out of 5G is unlikely to be something that Groby residents welcome. Most may prefer a technological breakthrough which delivered the benefits of 5G without the tall and intrusive masts.

Telecom mast proposed for Ratby Road

August 2022 Following the rejection of a mast on Pymm Ley Lane, the service provider has been looking for a new site. The result is a proposal to place a mast and associated boxes on Ratby Road, opposite the Brookvale Learning Campus. The planning application can be viewed on the Hinckley and Bosworth website by following this link, scrolling down to the search box, and inserting the application number - 22/00734/TGDO .

Telecom cabinets - You’ve probably seen better fly tipping

October 2021 Like it or not 5G, the fifth generation mobile network, is the future for our telecommunication services. We are told that “5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher peak data speeds, ultra low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and connects new industries.” It’s a global phenomenon, and even King Canute would probably step aside as it is rolled out.

It will ultimately also provide an alternative to our existing wired broadband, and at eye watering speeds. A film that currently takes 13 minutes to download might, in optimum circumstances, take just 4 seconds. Many people may not care about any perceived advantages, or might have concerns about whether there are any health risks. But it’s on its way and the clock cannot be turned back.

Like it or not, the new masts that have started sprouting up are part of the deal. But they can be accompanied by additional cabinets, such as those that have been installed on Groby Road in Ratby, this side of the M1. Are there are some things that open our eyes to how our environment has been degraded without us noticing? The street view on Google maps suggests that the array of cabinets at this location have never been a pretty site, and if they were a row of abandoned fridges and freezers they could hardly look worse. With all the investment that has gone into mobile technology why has so little thought been given to the street scene?

After all, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has been very good at taking this into account. Last year the Spotlight reported that they had refused planning permission for alterations to a bungalow that would raise the roof to provide a two storey dwelling. The property is in a row of bungalows on the same side of the road, and would be incompatible with the street scene.

They also refused permission to an application that went to appeal. The Inspector considered that the remodelled dwelling would be seen as part of an enclosed and distinctive group of bungalows, within which it would appear starkly different and harmful in scale and form. The street scene had been protected.

When Groby Allotment Society wanted to improve it’s facilities by installing a container the planning officers opposed it in order to protect the street scene, even though it was to be disguised and set behind a hedge.

And here we have a string of giant cans, admittedly not on a residential street, but set amongst trees, a hedge and grass. Perhaps Whitehall’s rules governing the roll out of 5G don’t give our local planners much discretion over what they can and cannot refuse, but they do have the power to add a condition that the boxes are painted a specific colour. Some may think that repainting both new and existing cabinets green, like the BT boxes, would be a good choice to disguise them, at least for part of the year.

With regards to the new installation, a spokesperson for the Planning Department at Hinckley said : “I have checked the application form which stated these would be grey and we did not add any condition requesting any alternative colour. Therefore, in this instance the boxes are to remain grey.”

At a time when residents are frustrated by the lack of influence they have over the rollout of new towers, they hope that the Planning Authority will use the limited powers it does have. This opportunity to protect the street scene by specifying an appropriate cabinet colour would have been an ‘easy win,’ as it is most unlikely that a telecom company would wish to take a disagreement about a few cans of paint to appeal.

Top of a tower video

If you would like a short birds-eye view of what’s at the top of a typical 5G tower just Google www.5gradar.com towers, follow the link and scroll down to the video.

August 2021

A MAST-ERFUL ACHIEVEMENT !!

David Hartridge (Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator) writes about the campaign against the proposed 5g mast

By the time you read this two months will have passed since we learnt that the planning proposal to erect an 18m mast on the corner of Flaxfield Close and Pymm Ley Lane had been refused. So, before those hectic three weeks all become history, I’m writing this summary a few days after the happy event as it gradually sinks in as to what an incredible achievement this has been for the village of Groby.

Can only object to the location and appearance

It is worth recapping that the Government has made the rolling out of the 5g network a major policy and therefore, to make it easier and quicker, they have relaxed the normal planning regulations and enabled mobile telephone providers to erect their masts on council owned land free-of-charge. Such a proposal is called a “Prior Approval” which means no one can object to the principle of a mast, but they can object to the location and appearance and that is exactly what our campaign concentrated on. Furthermore the final decision just lay with a Planning Officer and was not voted upon by the Ward members, our representatives, who are on the Planning Committee. We were warned it had virtually been rubber-stamped already.

But it was not just these matters for objection. The fact the mast was only located 3m from two properties was a very strong one as previous locations in the village had been turned down for close proximity to houses. But to understand the complete picture I downloaded the actual Planning Application and discovered it was so riddled with inaccuracies and untruths.

Planning protocol ignored?

In my view, planning protocol had been ignored completely. For the Applicant to say they had consulted with the neighbourhood and community was completely untrue. We had seen no one. Then to describe the location as secluded by trees and how it would blend in with the street scene was laughable as there isn’t a tree in sight. This mast would be a blot on the landscape and a massive intrusion on our environment and well-being, particularly health-wise, as there is much yet unknown about these masts and the radiation they emit. I soon became aware of residents having serious concerns over their health and I was inundated with internet data on the subject. All this was included in a detailed Objections Document I sent to several Councillors at HBBC and indeed, I know that many residents also wrote very detailed objection letters on health and environment issues that all added weight to the ultimate success of our campaign.

We should also not forget that this whole matter came to light by a chance conversation between my wife and a neighbour who had seen the planning notice on a lamp post on the opposite side of Pymm Ley Lane where none of our residents would pass. Also it had been placed there after the deadline for submitting information for the May Spotlight so our Councillors had been unable to warn us.

Closing date extended

The original Notice, entitled Pymm Ley Close, was dated 10th May and we had 21 days to lodge ‘objections’. It was already the 17th. After urgent contact with our Councillors complaining of the inaccuracies of the Notice and the sighting, a new Notice was put up in Flaxfield Close dated 20th May and under duress, HBBC eventually gave us 21 days from this revised date.

Being the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for Flaxfield Close I was immediately in touch with the majority of residents who are members and their reactions were so supportive.

It was paramount to raise awareness in the village and motivate the Community to object online, send in postal objections and also sign our petitions. We erected “Move the Mast” signs on Pymm Ley Lane, placed petitions in Wilson’s, Pricegate and the Post Office and then several of us pounded the pavements knocking on doors in the area bounded by Crane Ley Road, Pine Tree Avenue, Dalby Drive and Leicester Road (South side). The response was also very positive.

No-one supported the mast

‘The rest is history’ as they say! We raised 723 signatures with addresses on our petitions and a further 195 objected online and by post. No one supported it. To get over 900 objections was a huge achievement and the residents of Flaxfield Close wish to say a massive “Thank You” to the Groby Community. They really did show how much our village means to them and to rally round giving us such support in such a short time was much appreciated and will not be forgotten.

Neither will we forget the support, advice and guidance we received from Councillors Martin Cartwright and Ozzy Oshea. Also we are particularly grateful to ex Councillor Peter Batty for his interest and support and for contacting and engaging Edward Argar, our Member of Parliament. Their presence and personal objections all helped our cause.

Of course, at the time of writing this we do not know if an Appeal will be launched but the general feeling is that the Applicant won’t. Yes, Groby can feel very pleased to have taken on central government and won the day. Thank you all again for your generous support and please do keep an eye on your lamp posts and verges.

May 2021

An18 metre mast on Pymm Ley Lane?

David Hartridge explains why this planning application should be rejected

As I am the Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for Flaxfield Close I immediately went on-line to read and download the Planning Application information. It was unbelievable. It had been raised in April and the Notice was dated 10 May, we only had 21 days to get objections in and it was the 17th when we found out.

I complained to our Councillors that the Notice was in the wrong place and incorrectly referenced. Then suddenly, on the 20 May a Notice appeared on one of our lamp posts referenced correctly. So did we now have 21 days from this new date? Under duress Hinckley & Bosworth admitted they had got the first Notice wrong and we did have until the 11 June to get objections registered.

This mast is just 3m from two properties. It would be a tremendous visual intrusion on our environment visible from many residences around. But apart from that it immediately raised questions over our health and general well-being. Many of the residents in our Close are retired and there are health problems, some serious. We cannot let this happen.

Needless to say the last two weeks has seen a massive campaign by some of our residents in raising awareness in the village and gathering support to object to H&B in the strongest manner possible.

Numerous inaccuracies in the planning proposal

I have analysed the planning proposal details and it contains numerous inaccuracies.

• They initially said it is on Pymm Ley Close. It is not.

• They say they have consulted with neighbours and the community when they have not.

• They say the proposed location is secluded in trees, and will blend into the surrounding street scene, when there are none and it will be a huge blot on the landscape.

• They say several other locations were turned down for being too close to residential properties, but surely 3 metres qualifies as too close to an 18 metre mobile phone mast?

In addition there has been no thought over the volume of fast traffic that passes this road junction, or the number of school children of all ages that walk through this area each day. There are many more issues that have been overlooked.

No choice over a delegated decision

It is of great concern that the decision will be made by officers in the Planning Department at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and not by the councillors elected to oversee the work of the Council and represent the interests of the residents. This is because of the Government’s relaxation in planning regulations for the spread of 5g mobile phone networks whereby operators can erect their masts free of charge on council land like this site. Residents cannot object to the mast, but can object to the location and appearance.

I have just submitted a very detailed objection document. I just hope my democratic right is given fair consideration, alongside the objection lodged by our Member of Parliament. There is just no reason why this Proposal should not be rejected. If you want to read the details and comment go to the HBBC website and enter 21/00522/TGDO into the search box on the planning pages.

I implore the residents of Groby to watch their green verges and lamp posts. There are plenty of open spaces less obtrusive than placing these eyesores in the middle of peaceful residential areas. There are still petitions in Wilson’s and the Post Office. We have raised over 700 signatures now and many have also objected on-line and by post. Please continue to support us in fighting this gross invasion of our well-being and environment. Thank you for your support to date.

David Hartridge

Flaxfield Close Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator