David LawrenceLocal Democracy Reporting Service
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An installation was proposed at the junction of Ferrers Close and Faseman Avenue
A plan to put a 20m-high telecommunications mast on a patch of grass in Coventry has been thrown out by councillors concerned by the lack of consultation.
Company MBNL wanted to put the monopole along with six cabinets in Ferrers Close, Tile Hill, after being told the tower block housing the equipment is earmarked for demolition.
The proposal for the junction of Ferrers Close and Faseman Avenue would ensure “a high-quality 4G coverage” continuing and enable the introduction of 5G services “for this part of Coventry”, planning agent Rachel Gormley said.
Planning permission was refused on grounds it would result in introducing an undesirable and incongruous feature within the street scene.
City councillor Gary Ridley stated letters that had gone out from “the applicant can be described as sporadic at best”.
He urged planning committee members to pause the process so residents and the applicant could sit down and find a way forward.
Ridley told the council planning meeting he recognised mobile phone masts were “an intrinsic part of modern life”.
But he added “what we have seen with this application is the desire to impose it on the community rather than work with the community to find solutions”.
‘Genuine concern’
Two neighbours spoke out about the plans at the meeting arguing the structure and equipment boxes would be too near houses and highly visible.
They said there had been little consultation on the matter, even though the planning officer at the meeting said letters were sent to neighbours.
Councillor Ridley told the meeting: “We have had two people who have spoken very eloquently and that sort of eloquence only comes from passion, genuine care and genuine concern.
“That is a flavour of the concern within the community around this application as it currently stands.”
Councillors unanimously refused permission on the grounds it would result in the introduction of an undesirable, highly conspicuous and incongruous feature within the street scene and that it would be an over-dominant feature.
Ms Gormley said more than 20 alternative sites were assessed within the target search area and the proposed location had been identified as the most suitable option.
She added the search area was “tightly constrained by the coverage footprint of the existing site and nearby installations within the network”.