COUNCILLORS have objected to proposals for a telecommunications company to install a 22.3metre 5G mobile phone mast in Wellington.

Cornerstone Telecommunications has submitted to Somerset Council a “notification of prior approval” application to go-ahead with its plans to remove an existing mast and replace it with a new one on land at Scotts Lane.

But members of Wellington Town Council’s planning committee were not happy with the prospect of such a tall mast towering over the area.

And councillors – who met on Monday (March 4) – were quick to mention that the same company had made a similar application only last summer which was later withdrawn following a large number of objections from nearby residents.

Now they feel that the company is trying to go the sneaky way through the process by suggesting they are removing one mast and replacing it with another on a “like for like” basis and so formal planning approval is not required.

But councillors have said that it is not “like for like” as the existing mast to be removed is 11.6m high and the planned new one is virtually double in height.

Cllr Keith Wheatley said that the applicants were trying to get the go-ahead on a “technicality” by saying it is a replacement mast.

“It is a technical way of getting around the process by not having to apply for planning permission,” he said. “They are trying to get out of putting a planning application in rather than having to put a planning application in.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “The applicants are entitled to put these masts up, but it is definitely not like for like – it’s double the height. It would be monstrous. We need to object to this application just as we did before.” 

Cllr Ross Henley said that a previous application had received many comments of concern from local residents and Wellington School, but was surprised that there were not many objections this time around.

“There was a lot of concern last time about how high the mast would be and how it would look in the area,” he said.

And Cllr Janet Lloyd added: “Are people aware of this application?”

Councillor objected to the application, but a final decision will rest with Somerset Council.

A spokesman for Cornerstone said: “The proposed works seek to upgrade the site to provide improved coverage and increased network capacity, required to enable Vodafone to meet increasing demand for services in the surrounding areas, and to support the government’s ambitions for high quality telecommunications networks across the UK.

“The upgrading of this site presents an opportunity to address a need for improved coverage without having to site a new base station installation in the area.

“It is an established telecommunications site and substantial amendments are proposed to enable the mast to accommodate the up to date equipment and provide new technologies to the area. The increased height and scale is dictated by the nature of the new equipment.”