WFH blamed after 5G phone masts are sited next to homes

A “WORKING from home blunder” led to council employees accidentally erecting two 60ft phone masts.

The 5G towers were built directly outside residents’ homes despite Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council refusing planning permission.

A local councillor said he believed the error could have been avoided if planning officers were in the office rather than working remotely. Marcus Andrews, a Liberal Democrat, said “nine out of 10” officers he dealt with were still working from home. He said: “You are probably going to run things better if you can get people together in a room, rather than by a Zoom meeting.”

The council’s planning department has 56 days to deliver a refusal decision. In the case of the two phone masts, officials failed to do so. David Kelsey, the chairman of the council’s planning committee, said he did not believe there was an issue with working from home.

A spokesman said: “BCP council is developing modern working practices that benefit both service provision and our colleagues.” They would not give figures on staff working from home.