Reading Borough Council Approve EE 5G Masts

EE's application to build two masts for 5G set to be approved by Reading Borough Council amid health fears.

12:56 10 September 2019

Reading Borough Council Planning Applications committee is set to vote whether to approve EE’s application to build two masts for 5G. The application seeks to replace two 17.5m towers with larger towers for the deployment of the next-generation mobile network.

 

Scientists worldwide have asked governments to further investigate the potential health impacts of 5G prior to its rollout. However, Public Health England has already released a statement saying that there is no convincing evidence that radio wave exposures below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guideline levels cause adverse health effects.

 

Councillor Emmett McKenna, chairman of the Planning Applications committee, said:

 

“The relevant guidance in this case, amongst a number of others, is the electronic communications code published by Ofcom in December 2017 and the revised National Planning Policy Framework published in February 2019.

 

“However, I can provide the reassurance that RBC have already escalated our own concerns about 5G delivery, via the Superfast Berkshire Broadband Project.

 

“This is the body taking a Digital Infrastructure Delivery role collectively across Berkshire on behalf of all six Unitary authorities.

 

“We have received assurances, that both Broadband Delivery UK and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport are not only aware of these concerns, but that the government has committed, as 5G continues to develop, to working with Public Health England in order to monitor available evidence.”