Reading 5G mast 'looks like its from War of the Worlds'

Hutchison, the owning company of mobile network Three, has applied to build a 5G mast on pavement outside Glendale House in Kidmore Road, Caversham.

The mast would be 15 metres (49.21 foot) tall and would require three equipment cabinets next to it to operate.

Hutchison has submitted multiple applications for 5G masts in Reading to improve connectivity for its users.

READ MORE: Telecoms company has appeal to build mast thrown out 

But neighbours are geared up to fight the plan and encourage the council to refuse it, with one objector vividly describing it as something from HG Wells’ War of the Worlds, the novel about an alien invasion.

Paul Wigmore, who’s lived in Kidmore Road for 14 years, said: “There’s no doubt this mast certainly would be massively intrusive and completely out of keeping with the local environment.

“As we’re fighting this, however, there is a real sense that local voices and objections don’t count for much.

“Local residents really don’t have much say if a telecommunications company, that is only thinking about its bottom-line, rampages wherever it wants, installing 5G masts that look like and feel they’re something out of HG Wells’s War of the Worlds.”

Mr Wigmore has made 3D impressions of what the mast might look like once built using computer editing software.

An impression made by neighbour Paul Wigmore of what the 5G mast might look like if built in Kidmore Road, Caversham. Credit: Paul Wigmore / image of 5G mast taken from Shutterstock

Other neighbours have voiced their displeasure about the mast as well, arguing it is too tall, too close to homes and out of keeping with the leafy and residential character of the area.

Fellow Kidmore Road resident Richard said: “We’re being faced with an incongruous 50-foot mast and alongside it three massive communication boxes that will dominate the street scape creating an eyesore for everyone. And in the winter, when the leaves have dropped, there will be no ability to camouflage its ugly and dominating appearance from residents, drivers, or passers-by.”

Another neighbour, Andy, expressed fears the mast could still be given the go ahead as they are considered ‘permitted development’.

Applications that are permitted development are generally approved unless considerable harm to the public can be demonstrated.

Andy said: “The negative impact of intentionally disturbing the habitats of these protected species, as well as bees and birds, are genuine concerns, but seem to carry little weight when it comes to fighting the planning application.”

The neighbours recently met with councillors to voice their concerns.

Cllr Paul Carnell (Conservative, Caversham Heights) said:"This application has rightly raised many residents concerns and it was good to meet them to talk through their objections.

"So far over 100 objections have been lodged with the council, including one each from Cllr Isobel Ballsdon and myself.

"The 50ft mast and associated control boxes would be totally out of place in this tree lined road.

"It would dominate the skyline, being twice as high as the surrounding homes, and there would be a constant hum from the boxes. Whilst Cllr Isoel Ballsdon (Conservative, Caversham Heights) and I fully support the roll out of 21st century infrastructure, it must be sympathetic to its location.

"We would like Hutchison, the applicant, to withdraw this application, conduct a thorough search for alternative locations and also investigate different technology so a less obtrusive solution is found to deliver the infrastructure and connectivity to the area.”

Cllr Sue Kitchingham (Labour, Caversham Heights) was also at the meeting.

Neighbours in Caversham raised their concerns about a plan to build a 5G mast in Kidmore Road to councillor Sue Kitchingham (Labour, Caversham Heights). Credit: Paul Wigmore

A Three spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Caversham. We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this site will be critical to making that happen.

“While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage. We carry out extensive searches and surveys to evaluate all the options.”

You can view and comment on the application by typing reference 220915 into the council’s planning portal.