A plan for a 5G mast in one part of Merseyside has been rejected over fears it could harm the area.
Three UK, through its parent company CK Hutchison Networks, wanted to build the mast on the pavement opposite 130 Claremount Road in Liscard, Wirral.
But Wirral Council’s planning officers threw out the idea, saying any economic benefits were not worth the visual harm the 20-metre tall structure would cause.
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A council planning document stated: “[The plan] would be unduly prominent in the streetscene, leading to a detrimental effect on visual amenity and the character of the area.
“Having regard to the limited justification put forward for the location of the development, the economic and social benefits of improved mobile connectivity are outweighed in this instance by the harm to amenity arising from the location of the mast.”
The scale of the mast would have had a particularly big impact on those living closest to it.
On this, the statement added: “The proposed development, by virtue of its siting and appearance in close proximity to the nearest residential dwelling houses, would be unduly prominent and oppressive when viewed from those dwelling houses, to the detriment of the amenity that occupiers should normally expect to enjoy.”
The news will come as a relief to those who wrote to the council protesting against the plan.
Of the 96 nearby properties which were consulted on the plan, 72 replied with 62 of them against and just 10 in favour.
Key concerns included the impact the plan would have on the look of the area and the fact that other more suitable sites should be considered.
In its planning statement, CK Hutchison Networks said the rollout of 5G brings economic and social benefits through improved connectivity.
The company added that options for mast sites were “extremely limited” in the area and that “the only viable solution that minimises amenity issues has been put forward”.
The statement added: “Mobile phone base stations operate on a low power and accordingly base stations therefore need to be located in the areas they are required to serve.
“Increasingly, people are also using their mobiles in their homes and this means we need to position base stations in, or close to, residential areas.”
