HUTCHISON 3G – MAST PROPOSAL
Update: Hutchison 3G have appealed against the decision by the council to refuse planning permission. and are persisting in their efforts to install this mast.
See here for more information on how to register your views as residents.
You may have noticed that the Residents Association has been very busy around Tattenham Corner installing planters on pavements and renovating the flower bed by the Station to build on the community feel of the area.
Bearing this in mind we are now very concerned and disappointed about a proposal from the 3 Network to erect a 20-metre high mast on the central green triangle in the shopping area at Tattenham Corner. This mast has a substantial diameter, approaching half a metre at the base.
The mast with 6 antenna and 2 transmission dishes would dominate the location and tower above the trees. According to the proposal it would be a Phase 8 system similar to the one pictured here. There would also be a line of unsightly cabinets associated with the mast adjoining the pavement.
Who Would Benefit
According to the supplied documentation the only residents who would benefit from this mast are network Three customers. Current data suggests that maybe 1 in 5 (20%) of residents are Three customers, the remaining 8 out of 10 (80%) are with competing phone companies. So a only small minority of residents would benefit from this mast.
Moreover currently less than a quarter of all phones in actual use are 5G enabled. Thus ALL residents would have to put up with its unattractive presence but only about 1 in 20 would actually notice a difference with their 5G phone reception.
Planning Issues
We think the main issues concern the proposed location which would make the mast dominant and overbearing. It would be out of character and would alter the village green aspect at the heart of the community. The space is in regular public use as an amenity providing a healthy green buffer between the shops and the roads. It has seating, is a meeting area for residents, and is used for local community events. It is close to the residential area, with houses and flats surrounding the space.
We agree that good electronic communications are essential, but alternative sites are preferred. Councillors and residents have suggested alternative locations, for example near to the council car park by the station, but these have been dismissed so far with very little reasoning.
A large number of residents have already made their views known to the Reigate & Banstead Planning Department and we would really appreciate it if more of you could make your feelings known.
Kathy Chattelle
Chair, Tattenham & Preston Residents kjchattelle@hotmail.co.uk
Phase 8 Street Pole
Action Please – What You Can Do
The planning application reference number is 21/01500/TED.
You can get more details, read existing comments and register your own comments at the Application Comments page on the Council Planning website here.
Alternatively, you can email: planning.applications@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
You will need to use your own words to express your views, although the highlighted phrases in the text above will give some headings to assist you.
The pictures following illustrate the potential visual harm to the area if this mast was allowed to be installed.
Or – write to :
Planning Department
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
Surrey RH2 0SH
quoting reference
21/01500/TED
The mast would be extremely visible over the trees, more so in winter when there are no leaves.
The proposal plans provided show the mast reaching high above the tops of the trees.
Every year Christmas decorations are set up in this area.
The picture adjacent shows an identical Hutchison 3G mast and cabinet layout which had been proposed for installation in London. The location in front of trees is similar to the Tattenham Corner area and it can be seen how the whole system is completely out of character with the surroundings. The local council refused the application outright.
The proposed location of the mast and cabinets is adjacent to the footpath and car parking zone.
The proposed cabinet installations, the same size as shown here, would be situated next to the footpath opposite the shops. If the proposal goes ahead then more cabinets could be installed at a later stage if the system is upgraded.