‘Eyesore’ Sutton Coldfield phone mast approved despite hundreds of objections
Plans for an “eyesore” phone mast on a patch of green land in Sutton Coldfield opposed by 230 people have been approved.
Councillors on Birmingham City Council’s planning committee today approved an application for a 15-metre-high monopole with six antennae at Heath Croft Road, Mere Green.
The plans had initially been refused on the grounds of “harm to visual amenity”, lack of evidence there were no reasonable alternative options and potential impact on trees.
The updated plans from CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd drop the height of the monopole from 20m to 15m and relocate the site northwards to Heath Croft Road as opposed to Little Sutton Lane.
Sutton Town Council, Councillor Meirion Jenkins and Councillor Ewan Mackey objected to the proposals.
A petition presented by Councillor Mackey with 230 signatures presented concerns including the “development is an eyesore” and it “should not be in a residential area or close to homes”.
Another point states the “grassed area is used by local residents and the installation of the monopole would ruin the green space” while another states it would be “negatively affecting house prices”.
It was also noted in the report to councillors there are “health concerns”.
But it is also noted in the report the mast would meet the standards of the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) for public exposure – and the proposal is “therefore considered acceptable on public health grounds”.
The committee today voted to approve the prior notification application for the mast by nine votes to two with no abstentions.
A planning officer speaking at the meeting said: “Policy – national and local – seeks to balance encouraging this new technology and the benefits that come with it with the environmental impact.
“We look to keep installations to a minimum, to share existing masts, look to utilise buildings, look to utilise existing structures and ultimately where there is a requirement for a new installation which is the case here, it is suitably placed and suitably designed […].
“By moving it around the corner, by reducing it to 15m it just nestles in better with the backdrop of the trees. It would be a very similar height to those existing trees.
“Ultimately we do feel they have overcome the previous concerns.”
