A new 5G phone mast could be built in Bolton – one councillor fears it could drive house prices down in the neighbourhood that lies in its shadow because of the 'unsightly appearance' of the masts.
Some 5G masts have been the focus attacks from conspiracy theorists falsely claiming 5G causes coronavirus, but the newly proposed mast in Bolton has instead drawn concerns that its being 'twice the height of surrounding homes' will drive house prices down.
Mobile network operator Hutchison 3G UK Limited, commonly known as Three, is in the process of selecting a site located within the Bolton area - and is looking at Kearsley Mount Shopping Precinct as a possible location.
Applications for 20 metre telecommunication monopoles have also already been submitted to Bolton Council for sites in Horwich, Greater Lever and Daubhill.
WHP Telecoms Ltd has written to councillors in Kearsley on behalf of Three inviting them to enter discussions before a planning application is submitted for a mast in front of Kearsley Mount Shopping Precinct in Manchester Road.
The news of a new mast in Bolton comes after multiple 5G masts have become targets for conspiracy theorists, following bizarre claims on social media that 5G "radiation" is the cause of coronavirus outbreak.
The rumours forced the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to release a statement to squash the untruths.
The statement said: "We are aware of inaccurate information being shared online about 5G.
"There is absolutely no credible evidence of a link between 5G and coronavirus."
But Cllr Paul Heslop said he wants to gauge the concerns of Kearsley residents, particularly those who live in the vicinity of the proposed location, after worries about the height of the masts.
He said: “Of immediate concern is the proximity to residences on Manchester Road, the Kearsley Precinct, Baker Street, Lindley Street and Beech Avenue.
“At 20 metres in height, the proposed mast is twice the height of the surrounding properties and literally hundreds of properties are situated within a couple of hundred metres of the proposed mast.
“This area of Kearsley – particularly the ‘river’ estate – is already under a cloud of uncertainty due to a possible new relief motorway and this uncertainty may have impacted on house prices and the saleability of properties.
“Whilst I acknowledge that recent studies suggest an increase in house prices in areas where 5G has been installed, I am concerned that the area immediately surrounding the proposed mast may be negatively impacted by a potentially unsightly structure that draws negative opinion from many people.”
The location of the proposed mast has been listed as Manchester Road, Salford, Manchester.
Cllr Heslop has written to the company asking for the address on the application to be changed to Kearsley.
He added: “I have little doubt that conspiracy theorists would jump on the notion that ‘they’re not even telling us that it’s in Kearsley’ so I have emailed Three to ask that this is corrected.
“I aim to present a series of questions to Three and, social-distancing rules permitting, would like to gauge any concerns of residents in the vicinity of the mast and then in wider Kearsley.”
