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Planners back villagers and reject 5g mast in conservation area
14/04/2023
Some Wroxton residents supported the idea, but not the location
Proposals to erect a 15 metre tall mobile phone mast in the middle of a village conservation area have been rejected by planners. CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd – known as Three UK – wanted to build the 5G monopole in Wroxton, on the main Stratford Road, close to the bus stop.
But Cherwell District Council’s planning officer felt the benefits of improved mobile coverage didn’t outweigh the detrimental effect the structure would have on the character of the aera.
Three’s application proposed a light grey slimline pole which would support 6 antennas with an equipment cabinet at its base. Three other cabinets would stand alongside for additional equipment, electric meters and transmission.
There was no local support for the application, with submissions from villagers and those who visited Wroxton.
One local resident wrote: “The thought of looking out of my kitchen window every morning onto a 15m high gloss white ‘Angel of the North’ fills me with anxiety.”
Others supported the potential improvements to mobile signals, but not from the proposed location. One wrote: “Whilst I support the need for better mobile coverage in rural locations to ensure that our local communities are better able to communicate I object to the location of this telecommunication apparatus.”
Wroxton Parish Council said they would like the mast to be located elsewhere, adding: “ideally it should be situated outside of the village given Wroxton is in an area of conservation”.
In rejecting the application the case officer, Daisy Kay-Taylor, wrote: “Although it is acknowledged that there are likely to be some public benefit(s) of the scheme, including social benefits, overall it is considered that the harm identified above would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the proposals’ benefit(s) and prior refusal should therefore be refused.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam