Council gives the OK to 14 giant 5G masts across city
PLANNERS at Cardiff Council have given permission for 14 giant 5G masts to be built across the city.
The masts will be 20 metres tall, and each have several antennas and microwave dishes. Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure, a joint venture between Vodafone and Telefonica, was granted planning permission for the masts last week.
Cornerstone explained the need for the new masts, in a letter to council planners. The company said: “5G is the new generation of wireless technology and will deliver the reliable and faster networks of the future.
“5G will change how we understand wireless connectivity, moving from something we experience through personal devices to an integrated infrastructure of buildings, transport and utilities, providing enormous benefits for citizens, businesses and urban regions alike.
“Whether it be in the healthcare, transport, energy or retail sectors, 5G will reshape how we use these services and will bring substantial savings to households, businesses and councils.”
Here’s where the 14 masts will go:
■ land off Excalibur Drive, next to Thornhill Church Centre, Llanishen;
■ opposite the garden centre on Newport Road, St Mellons;
■ land off Rhiwbina Hill, next to the M4, Rhiwbina;
■ land off Plas Mawr Road, Fairwater;
■ next to the Johnston Road bus stop, Thornhill Road, Rhiwbina;
■ opposite Heath Halt Road, Heathwood
Road, Cyncoed
■ land off Celyn Avenue, next to Lomond Crescent, Lakeside;
■ land off East Bay Close, Atlantic Wharf; ■ next to Ventnor Place and Western Avenue, Mynachdy;
■ next to the Maindy Centre, Crown Way, Maindy’
■ junction of Broad Street and Sanatorium Road, Canton;
■ next to County Hall, Schooner Drive, Butetown;
■ next to B&Q, Cowbridge Road West, Caerau; and
■ land off Whittle Road, Leckwith.
Several people living nearby to the planned masts wrote into the council, concerned about the health impacts of living so close to the new 5G technology. But there is no evidence to suggest 5G is dangerous, according to factchecking charity Full Fact.
Cornerstone addressed the health concerns about 5G masts in a letter to the council. The letter quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Health England (PHE).
The WHO noted: “A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.”
Similarly, PHE said: “Exposure to radio waves is not new, and health-related research has been conducted on this topic over several decades. In particular, a large amount of new scientific evidence has emerged since the year 2000, through dedicated national and international research programmes.”