Plans for 5G mast on green space refused

A petition to the council dubbed the mast site on James Green Road "completely inappropriate"

A 5G mast will not be built on green space used by residents in Coventry, after more than 100 people called for the scheme to be rejected.

Plans for the 20m (65ft)-high pole on grass off James Green Road in Tile Hill have been refused by the city council.

It said the mast, its large cabinets and an access track would greatly reduce an area's value as "public open space" used for leisure activities.

The applicant, MNBL, said the site was the best one for telecommunications in the area.

The group stated it would provide "new and up-to-date network services including 5G" to people living and working there".

But a council officer said while there was a need for network coverage, policy did not say this should outweigh other concerns.

They also stated they did not think better spots to put the mast had been fully looked into.

'Less harmful'

A petition to the council dubbed the mast "completely inappropriate".

Woodlands Conservative councillor Gary Ridley, who presented the petition to the authority, said he recognised 5G masts were being rolled out across the country, but "this must be done sensitively and in partnership with the local community". 

He added the application would have been an imposition "on a valuable community green space" and the applicant "failed to demonstrate the absence of less harmful alternative options".

The applicant has six months to appeal the ruling.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.