Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Green light for 65ft mast
A bid to erect a towering 20m 5G mast in the centre of Canterbury has been approved by the city council.
Mobile infrastructure services company Cornerstone applied to boost phone coverage for Telefonica by upgrading an existing mast in Rheims Way.
It says the imposing height at 20m - which is taller than four stacked double-decker buses is “essential in order to provide equivalent replacement coverage to the target coverage area”.
The application states: “The existing radio base station has been in situ on Rheims Way for a number of years and has become an established part of the streetscene.
“Technology advances including 5G service provision - and additional demands on the operator’s mobile network system in the area have meant that additional antennas need to be installed to facilitate all the data that is required to be carried for mobile superfast broadband.
“However, this new technology and the design of the antennas required for 5G means that the existing column is not able to support this new technology and therefore a new slightly bigger column is required.”
The applicant says it has “carefully considered” the design of the new proposed column which overlooks the cycle path - and six antennas need to be installed at the top of the slimline monopole.
The city council approved the application last month.
A decision notice says while the proposed mast is slightly taller, “it is not considered to detract from the character and appearance of the locality”.
“Given the separation distance from neighbouring properties and its nature, the proposal would not result in any overbearing, overshadowing, loss of privacy or overlooking harmful to the living conditions of nearby property occupiers.”
Last month, mobile network Three’s plans to erect a towering 5G mast standing almost 70ft tall in New Dover Road were rejected following an outcry from residents, amid fears it could spoil historic views.