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Exeter 5G masts on the way

Monday, 31 August 2020 10:24

By Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter

"Hello! I'm at the shopping precinct"

By restaurant and shopping centre

Controversial plans for two new 5G masts to be installed in Exeter are set for approval.

Exeter City Council’s planning committee is being recommended to give the go-ahead for the installation of the 15 metre tall 5G pole in Cowick Street near the St Thomas shopping centre, and for a 20 metre one in Sidmouth Road, by the car park of Toby Carvery, opposite St Peter’s School.

Both applications have been made by mobile network operator Hutchison 3G UK Limited, commonly known as Three, for what it claimed is an "acute need."

The scheme have proved controversial, with 93 objections out of 95 comments on the Sidmouth Road plans, and 300 objections out of 312 comments on the St Thomas plans, although only half of them are from being who live or work in Exeter.

Among the objections are concerns over safety, perceived public health risks and that further research should be done and application put on hold until the safety of 5G has been established. However, as the application is considered to be ‘permitted development’, the only considerations that the committee can take into account relate to the siting and appearance of the mast.

Legal advice to the committee says that while the introduction of 5G is controversial, with many campaigners claiming the technology is unproven and potentially hazardous, the government and Public Health England guidance is that 5G is safe and that there are no public health grounds for 5G installation to be refused.

The planning reports add:  “International and UK expert groups have examined the evidence and have said it is possible that there may be a small increase in overall exposure to radio waves when 5G is added to an existing network or in a new area, but the overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health.

“The applicant has submitted a certificate stating that the proposal will meet the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines as required by legislation and if the local planning authority were to refuse the application on health grounds, this would be an impossible position to sustain at appeal.”

Some of the objections cite perceptions of risk, causing anxiety and stress, and the potential for people to avoid shopping in the area, the report says, but it adds that the application has addressed the need for the masts in the areas.

The St Thomas mast was initially due to be 20 metres high, but has subsequently been reduced to 15 metres, and recommending approval, the report says: “Following the revised plans reducing the height of the monopole to 15m and photomontages demonstrating the visual impact on heritage assets, the proposal is considered to provide significant public benefit that outweighs any visual harm to the conservation area and the setting of locally and nationally listed buildings.”

And recommending approval for both plans, it adds: “While the health risks raised by opponents of this type of development are noted, they are not considered grounds for refusal based on national guidance. The proposals provides significant public benefit that outweighs any slight visual harm in this location.”

The planning committee is being advised that the only considerations they can look at are around the siting and appearance of the mast, and that any perceived health risks are not planning grounds for refusal.

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