A proposed 5G mast was discussed as an urgent item at Arun District Council’s latest planning meeting.
Mobile network provider ‘Three’ wants to build a 5G mast close to the junction of Middleton Road and Park Drive, in Felpham.
The chairman of ADC’s planning committee, Terence Chapman (Con, East Preston), allowed the application to be ‘called in’ because it received more than 60 objections.
This followed a request by Paul English (Con, Felpham East) for it to be decided by the committee and not by officers. Most of the objectors were concerned that the 15 metre-tall mast would be ‘overbearing’ and would be ‘too close to properties’.
Among them is Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb, who said a number of his constituents had written to him about the mast.
One Felpham resident also spoke of her health fears during the planning meeting.
“This proposed mast will be beaming microwaves straight into people’s bedrooms, including my own,” she claimed. “My only choice will be to move house or try to make my house radiation proof.”
The woman also said that her family home does not have a smart metre, cordless phone, or a wireless internet connection ‘because of the radiation they all give off’.
But planning officers explained that applications for new telecommunications equipment have to be accompanied by safety certificates, adding that one had already been provided in this case.
Government guidance says full planning permission is not necessarily required for new telecoms infrastructure, like 5G masts, but councils can have a say on where it is placed and how it looks.
The committee ultimately decided to approve the 15 metre-tall mast on Wednesday (24 August).
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