Landlady unimpressed by ‘communications monstrosity’ which towers over her pub
A landlady says she is shocked by the height of a new mobile phone mast which now towers over her pub.
The 5G mast erected on behalf of mobile phone operator Three, which is 15 metres high, was recently put in place on Eston High Street, just outside the Miners Arms.
Landlady Nicola Jack said the structure, which also includes a number of large cabinets, was an “eyesore” and was taller than what she had been led to believe.
Mrs Jack conceded she had not objected to the structure, having previously received a letter in advance of the development.
She said: “We did get a letter asking for permission and they said it was only a mast.
“They did not say it was going to be that big.”
Mrs Jack said the pub had planned to apply for permission from Redcar and Cleveland Council to put a beer garden on its frontage, but expected that would now be rejected because of the presence of the structure.
She also claimed a pavement slab that had been upended during the construction work was lobbed through through the bar window of the pub by a passing vandal, costing £1,000 damage.
Resident Malcolm France described the mast as a “communications monstrosity”.
He said: “I wonder how many residents of Eston were asked how they felt about the building of this monstrosity.
“No doubt the decision was made by a faceless committee with no regard for the views of Eston folk.”
Councillor Christopher Massey, who represents the Eston ward on the council, said the application from CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd had been subject to a consultation last year, but no objections were received.
This meant a decision to approve it was made on a delegated basis, rather than it coming before the council’s regulatory committee.
Cllr Massey said: “I completely sympathise with residents and agree that this structure should have been ideally sited away from the High Street.
“Unfortunately, the planning authority received no objections to this proposal from the consultation undertaken and as such planning permission was granted.”
A council officers’ report seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service said: “The development proposed at 15m is somewhat taller than the existing lamp columns in the area, but this is not considered to have an unacceptable impact in terms of the appearance of the street scene or the character of the area.
“The development will have no direct impact on the amenity of neighbouring properties in terms of emissions etc, but there will be a change to the outlook from the nearest adjoining properties and on the street scene.
“However this is not considered to justify a refusal of prior approval.
“The development will have no impact on highway safety.”
It added: “It is considered that the pole and additional associated development would not create conditions that would be so material to the character and appearance of the area that prior approval ought to be withheld.”
Information from the applicant suggested that consideration had been given first to sharing existing telecommunication structures in the immediate area and utilising any suitable existing structures or buildings, with a freestanding ground-based new installation eventually being chosen.
Three said the application had gone through a standard consultation process with no objections being received.
A company spokeswoman said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Teesside.
“We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this site is critical to making that happen.
“Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.
“We carry out extensive searches and surveys to evaluate all the options.”