Bury St Edmunds residents raise concerns over ‘horrendous’ 5G mast built on Baldwin Avenue on town’s Mildenhall Road Estate

Residents in Bury St Edmunds have said they feel trapped after a ‘horrendous’ 5G mast was installed outside their homes and another one is due to be built on a neighbouring estate.

The 15 metre 5G telecommunications pole and equipment cabinets were installed in Baldwin Avenue on the Mildenhall Road Estate earlier this month after a planning application submitted in January by CK Hutchison Networks (Three) was approved.

But residents on the street feel they were not properly notified by West Suffolk Council and have raised health concerns.

The council has said residents were informed of the plans through public notices, while Three said it complies with guidelines to ensure that no harmful levels of radiation are emitted.

Resident Jo Owen is worried about the health implications of the 5G mast and has been spreading the word to householders in St Olaves Road on the Howard Estate where a 20 metre monopole and additional equipment cabinets are also due to be built.

Miss Owen, who lives close to Baldwin Avenue, said: “Nobody was aware at all. We didn’t have any communication as local residents. There was one A4 piece of planning application document stuck on a lamp post next to the bus stop where the mast has gone up.

“There was 21 days to submit any objections, obviously nobody did because we didn’t know anything about it so there were no objections.

“It’s impacting people’s physical and mental health. It’s really in your face. You open your door and it’s right there – it’s horrendous.

“I’ve had headaches ever since it was put up. I don’t want to be in my home anymore. It doesn’t feel safe.”

She would like the masts to be moved to industrial estates or rural areas, away from residents.

However, according to guidance from Ofcom there is no link between 5G and adverse health effects.

A married couple, who did not want to be named, said: “We feel trapped.

“I don’t like it being here. We are concerned it will affect the value of our house.”

Another resident of Howard Road, who lives in one of the new build houses opposite the 5G mast which will be built in St Olaves Road, said: “I don’t know if I would have paid quite as much if I knew they were going to plonk something right there. I don’t know if it will affect the price when we want to sell it.”

There were comments in support of the planning applications but these were from residents who did not live on the estates.

A spokesman for West Suffolk Council said the application 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 spokesperson 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.