An 18-metre 5G mast could be built in Cambridge despite concerns over its potential impact on road safety. Cambridge City Council had refused permission to install a 5G mast in the grass on Cherry Hinton Road. Officials had raised multiple concerns about the plan, including road safety while maintenance work was being carried out on the utility poles.
“In the absence of convenient parking for maintenance vehicles, there is a high likelihood that such vehicles will park within the adopted public right-of-way and compromise highway safety,” the city council said. This obstruction poses a threat to highway safety and may have an unacceptable impact on the safe functioning of the highway. ”
The council also argued that an 18-metre mast would be “unusually high” for the area. The planning officer’s report said: “Whilst it is accepted that the expansion of the telecommunications network is supported, due to its height, shape and location, the proposal poses a significant visual threat to the character and appearance of the surrounding area. It is believed that this may cause damage.” The benefits of improving communication networks are likely to outweigh the harms. ”
Read more: Cambs mother is ‘extremely concerned’ about her son’s development after council failure keeps him out of nursery school
Read more: 30 bus routes in Cambridgeshire to be upgraded with new routes planned
However, one planning inspector said he could not agree with these claims. Inspectors said they were aware that maintenance vans parked on the road would be a particular nuisance to cyclists. But planning inspectors said the road had double yellow lines, which would “prevent” maintenance vans from parking there.
Inspectors said they were satisfied that there was other off-street parking nearby. They also suggested that the frequency of maintenance visits would be “very limited,” so any potential “dangerous parking” would only be “an infrequent, short-term disruption to the free flow of traffic.” he claimed.
The planning inspector said he did not believe the mast would affect the character of the area as the council claimed. They say: “The proposed mast would be seen within a limited field of view and against a variety of existing street furniture. Therefore, although the mast would be taller than the existing street furniture, its visual impact would be will result in limited visual harm.
“As a result, this site setting will be able to integrate well with the local pattern of street furniture and architectural development. The proposal will be located within the interstitial spaces of existing features and will not impede pedestrian flow. Its location outside the sidewalk does not significantly contribute to street clutter. The mast is slim and the antenna is mounted close to the pole, minimizing overall bulk. , the mast has been thoughtfully designed to integrate with its surrounding environment.”
For more information about planning notices in your area, please visit: publicnoticeportal.uk .
