Plans for Frome 5G Mast Refused

Mendip District Council’s planning board rejects the application for a 5G mast on Grove Lane and Manor Road.

17:55 24 March 2022

Mendip District Council has officially rejected plans to build a new 5G mast on Grove Lane and Manor Road in Frome on March 16. 

 

The decision was welcomed by residents who have attended the meeting at the Somerset council chamber on Wednesday evening. 

 

Councillors were evenly split on the plans as they weigh the benefits that the 5G mast can offer versus its potential risk to residents' health. With the committee deadlocked, chairman Damon Hooton used his casting vote to turn down the plans put forward by H3G (UK) Ltd. 

 

Councillor Shane Collins said: “There is a large and growing body of evidence to human exposure to RFR [radio-frequency radiation] from cellular phone base stations causes negative health effects – including headache, concentration difficulties, memory changes, dizziness, tremor, depressive symptoms, fatigue and sleep disturbance – and increased incidence of cancer.

 

Peter Harris, by contrast, said the proposal complied with all existing regulations and was sufficiently far from existing residential streets.

 

He said: “The nearest residents are 200 metres away to the north-east, so they should not be affected. It does meet all the standards comfortably. The proposal is in line with local and national policies.

 

“The pandemic has shown the critical importance of mobile technology and broadband, and the roll-out of 5G enhances this significantly.”