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5G Mast Rejected
Reading Borough Council rejects two applications to build 5G masts on Kidmore and Henley Roads.
00:19 25 January 2023
Three UK's applications to build two 5G masts in Caversham have been rejected by Reading Borough Council following opposition by residents.
Planning officer Beatrice Malama said that the masts would detract from the visual amenity of Kidmore and Henley Roads.
Prior to the release of the council's decision on the proposed 5G mast on Kidmore Road, about 40 residents filed a complaint saying that the mast would be out of character with the residential street and would block sight lines for drivers.
Meanwhile, the application for the 5G mast on Henley Road was met with thirteen objections. Residents described the pole as an "eyesore" and a "blot in the landscape".
A spokeswoman for Three UK said the company would consider the reasons for the refusals and think about its options.
She said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Caversham.
“We want to offer the area a great network experience and our planners determined that these new sites were required to deliver it.
“While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they do need to be situated near to where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.”