West Suffolk Council cannot stop rollout of 5G masts being installed on Bury St Edmunds housing estates

A council has said there was little it can do to stop the rollout of 5G masts on health and visual grounds after residents voiced objections to towers being built on housing estates.

At a West Suffolk Council meeting on Tuesday, councillor Jim Thorndyke, cabinet member for planning, said there was little the council can do as the Government requires local planning authorities to support the expansion of electronic communications networks.

It comes after residents of Baldwin Avenue in Bury St Edmunds objected to the 15 metre telecommunications pole and equipment cabinets which were installed by CK Hutchison Networks (Three) near their homes earlier this month.

They feel they were not properly notified by West Suffolk Council and have raised health concerns.

A second 20m monopole and additional equipment cabinets are also due to be built on St Olaves Road on the Howard Estate.

Addressing councillors at the meeting, resident Jo Owen, who lives near Baldwin Avenue on the town’s Mildenhall Road Estate, said: “I’ve been told by a local councillor that the proper process has been followed to grant approval for this.

“I whole-heartedly disagree. This is not an application for a house extension, where every neighbour would have been informed and given an opportunity to make their views known, this is a mobile phone mast emitting electromagnetic frequencies into the environment and into our homes 24 hours a day. The long term health implications of which are not yet known.

“Have you stopped to think about the impact these masts are having on local communities? These are visual monstrosities. They could devalue our homes. Who will compensate us for this?

“Would you want one of these 5G masts next to your home? Would you be willing to take the risk of your own and your family’s health? If any one of you would, then you can take the one on Baldwin Avenue because we don’t want it.”

Miss Owen added that residents have reported experiencing intense headaches, ringing ears, chest pain, stomach pain, brain fog, insomnia and depression.

However, according to guidance from Ofcom there is no link between 5G and adverse health effects, and these claims should not block or delay the rollout of 5G.

Other applications for masts have been approved in Sicklesmere Road, Mount Road and Bedingfeld Way.

A spokesman for West Suffolk Council said the application for the Baldwin Avenue mast was advertised through public notices in the media and were on display close to the site.

Stakeholders were consulted including the town council, while councillors were also informed.

A spokeswoman for Three said masts need to be built in precise locations where there are people using the service to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.

They added that planning departments for councils define the exact location where masts can be built and they cannot be moved.

They said the company is aware of the concerns raised around health but that 5G deployment is no different to any other mobile technology.