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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Steven Brown

Edinburgh residents launch campaign against 65ft mast they say will block castle

Edinburgh residents have launched a campaign against a 65ft 5G mast, they claim will block views of the castle.

The pole has been proposed for Johnston Terrace, located beside the castle. A planning application was submitted at the start of March by telecommunications company, CK Hutchison Networks who are behind the structure.

The application has received 71 objections on the Edinburgh City Council website, with only one individual supporting it. Comments for the proposals finished at midnight on Friday April 7.

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Campaigners have complained about the location of the planned 5G mast, they say may deter tourists from visiting the area.

(Steven Brown)

Edinburgh resident for 35 years, Marc Wilkinson, 55, who behind the campaign, said: "The main thing that I am objecting about is the fact that no one seems to know about the application that was sent to the council."

Marc went onto claim that "there's a very small number of people who were informed" about the planning implementation of the 5G mast.

Marc at the location of where the 5G mast will be installed on Johnson Terrace. (Steven Brown)

"It is right bang smack in the middle of the city, next to Edinburgh castle in the midsts of a UNESCO world heritage site. It is just going to be a complete and utter eyes sore and it is going to destroy the view.

"The mast is 65 feet high and right in front of the most photographed place of the whole of Scotland as it is the only place on the Grassmarket that you can see the castle."

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Colinton resident, Richard Ennos, 64, who attended the protest said: "It is a gross intrusion into what is supposed to be a conservation area and which has UNESCO heritage status.

Richard Ennos alongside others is objecting to the mast being installed on Johnson Terrace. (Steven Brown)

"It may be just the first of many and if it goes ahead we may be ruining the cityscape of the very, very valuable city of Edinburgh."

A Three UK spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Johnston Terrace. We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this site will be critical to making that happen.

“Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage. We carry out extensive searches and evaluate a wide range of options before submitting any planning applications."

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