Anger at plan for towering 5G mast in middle of Halesowen housing estate

The proposed site for the towering 18-metre 5G mast is at the rear of 7, Cricklewood Drive, on the Abbeyfields estate.

The estate of around 500 homes is near Leasowes Park and Manor Way in Lapal - with the site having been earmarked by Hutchinson 3G - sparking anger amongst local residents.

More than 50 letters of objection have been submitted to Dudley Council - from residents of roads including Cricklewood Drive, Hamilton Avenue, Carisbrooke Drive, Westdean Close and Hartsbourne Drive.

Concerns centre around it being an "eyesore" which will devalue homes and ruin views, it being in the middle of a housing estate and possible health concerns.

Residents Lisa and Paul Humpage, of Carisbrooke Drive, are appealing for people to submit objections before May 17.

Mum-of-four Lisa said: "Usually these masts are on busy A roads, not on residential estates.

"It will be an eyesore on a one-way system which everyone will have to drive past every time they go in and out.

"It will be 25-metres from our children's trampoline, we will be able to see it from our garden, our kitchen and children's bedrooms.

"They say they are safe, but it's too soon to say with this technology being so new."

The couple, whose children are between the ages of three and ten, have mocked up an image of how the mast would look (below).

A resident of Cricklewood Drive states in their letter of objection: "This is completely the wrong site for this monstrosity, a quiet residential area.

"There is waste land on Manor Way. Mucklow Hill is largely industrial.

"I don't understand why what is literally almost in my back garden should be chosen as suitable.

"I have just retired after 40 years teaching local children, I was going to spend a lot of time enjoying my garden ..... but now...for no good reason it will be ruined. I am heartbroken.

"I beg you to reconsider this location."

Another resident of the road states: "There is open land nearby where the eyesore could be installed without wrecking lives by reducing property prices and increasing fears of illness.

"There are real and legitimate concerns about the effects of the technology and I plead with you not to bring those to my home."

Another writes: "A heavily populated 500 home residential estate must surely be one of the last places to select as a site for an 18 metre tall phone mast.

"That is why they are usually seen by the side of busy A roads.

"The applicant has made the ridiculous claim that the mast, and its clutter of other communication equipment, would “blend into the surrounding street scene.”

Above: A picture showing the distance of the mast from homes by Lisa and Paul Humpage. Pic: Google 

A Three spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Halesowen. We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and a new site will be critical to making that happen. While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they do need to be situated near to where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.

“The 5G rollout by all UK MNOs complies with all global standards on health and safety which have been developed since the early 1990s – there has been independent testing by Ofcom.”

The application can be found on Dudley Council's planning website under ref. P21/0829/PN16A.