Spalding residents urged to fight 5G mast planning appeal

Residents are being urged to join a fight against a planning appeal over a ‘bonkers’ 5G mast.

People living in Spalding’s Holland Park are battling against phone network Three’s bid to overturn a planning decision.

C K Hutchinson Networks, which runs Three, has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate over South Holland District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for 15m pole and cabinets in The Parkway.

Spalding councillors will be holding a ‘can we help you’ meeting in St John’s Church on nearby Hawthorn Bank, on Saturday, September 3.

In addition, residents are now being urged to send in objections to the appeal before September 19.

One person who is against the planned mast is Peter Jullien.

Mr Jullien is opposed to the application as he feels the mast and cabinets are out of character with the area and the impact on the green open space.

He said: “I would like to ask people if they would want our amenity area to be spoiled by industrial cabinets. It is bonkers.

“The residents of Eden Court will be looking out onto a series of cabinets. The whole thing is completely inappropriate for the setting.

“We are encouraging as many people as possible to write and it doesn’t have to be a long letter.”

The district council had initially refused the application on the grounds that it would be an ‘unduly dominant, obtrusive and alien feature’ last year.

The planning appeal process began on August 15 with statements from interested parties needing to be with the planning inspectorate by September 19.

Spalding councillor Angela Newton had helped to arrange the meeting - alongside fellow ward member Anthony Cronin - before she sadly died earlier this week.

This was one of many campaigns she was involved in and she spoke to us about the matter last week, in which she urged residents to come forward.

She said: “The idea is that people can make observations and we will make sure that those are put forward.

“It is a big structure for the area.

“One of the biggest fears is it is used by the air ambulance several times a year.

“We want to hear people’s views.”

Three has suffered a series of setbacks with plans for 5G masts in Wygate Park, Birch Grove, Hawthorn Bank, The Parkway and West Elloe Avenue all rejected by the district council.

A spokesman for the firm had previously told us that it is still looking for sites in the town to enable the rollout of technology which promises faster and more reliable mobile phone connections.

• You can comment by writing to the Planning Inspectorate, Room 3M Kite, Temple Quay House, The Square, Bristol, BS1 6PN. The reference number is APP/A2525/W/22/3298785