Residents join battle over plans for 41ft cricket club phone mast

Town planners have given their backing to the proposed mast at Wickersley Old Cricket Club in Northfield Lane, which would provide coverage for both the O2 and Vodafone networks, saying that it would prevent the need to build two separate masts elsewhere.

The mast in question would be used to support 3G technology, which allows so-called smartphones to access the Internet.

Planners at Rotherham Council say that there is currently a low signal in Wickersley and “the area covered by the 3G technology is less than for the older second generation, or 2G, technology”.

They add: “As such, more masts are needed to provide the appropriate 3G coverage.”

Prior to submitting the planning application, Telefonica O2 and Vodafone had considered several different sites for the proposed mast, including the parade of shops in Bawtry Road, Wickersley telephone exchange, the Three Horseshoes pub, Wickersley St Albans Primary School, Wickersley Northfield Primary School and the Gilder Volkswagen car showroom.

However, each one of these sites was found to be unsuitable.

A total of 24 individual letters of objection have been submitted to Rotherham Council’s planning department in relation to the application, including one from Wickersley Parish Council.

A parish council spokesman said: “The location, height and design of the proposed mast would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the surrounding residential area.

“Two previous applications for mobile phone masts in the vicinity of the current application, both at Wickersley telephone exchange, were both refused by the council as being contrary to planning policy.

“The proposal is contrary to the policy of the parish council regarding phone masts, in that the proposed siting is near a school site, recreation land and close to an aged person’s development.”

Other objectors say that the mast would be an “eyesore” and reduce property values, would be too close to neighbouring properties, would be too close to schools and could harm the health of children, and could affect “the most vulnerable members of the public”, including pensioners and young children.

However, town planners say that the proposed mast is acceptable and have advised councillors to approve the plans at a committee meeting on Thursday, April 7.

The pole itself would be 12.5m (41ft) high and installed in the southern corner of the cricket ground, along with equipment cabinets, next to a scoreboard building around 19ft high.

In the report set to go before councillors at this week’s meeting, the planning officials say: “Whilst the proposed mast is taller than the existing trees and adjacent buildings, it is not considered that it would appear as an alien feature in the street scene.

“The use of mast sharing between these operators is welcomed as it further reduces the need for individual masts.

“Whilst this requires in some locations the erection of a slightly larger mast, it is not considered in this instance that the slimline pole would appear visually obtrusive.

“The evidence provided demonstrates that the proposed shared mast of this design is a suitable solution for this area, given the lack of alternative sites.

“The height and overall visual impact of the proposed mast and equipment, in comparison to the existing building on site and vegetation including mature trees in the locality is considered to be marginal.

“There is no evidence that the mast would be detrimental in terms of perceived health matters or highway safety.”

Thursday’s planning committee meeting will begin at 9am at Rotherham Town Hall.