Worries for heritage as mobile masts spring up for new phones

Plans to build up to 14 mobile phone masts up to 65ft tall across Harrogate and Knaresborough, have sparked outrage after being recently unveiled.

Last year residents and even the council leader clashed with mobile phone companies over plans to erect several masts in York.

The masts are to cope with a huge increase in demand since the launch of devices like the iPhone and Blackberry.

While recognising the economic benefits of ensuring that North Yorkshire is better connected, civic leaders say it must not come at the expense of the county’s heritage.

David Winpenny, executive committee member on the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies (YHACS), and chairman of the Ripon Civic Society where an Orange mobile phone mast has been built on the roof of the historic cathedral’s central tower, said: “We need to look at exactly where these masts are going.

“Obviously we understand the need for better communications throughout North Yorkshire but that has to be balanced against the nature of the environment –particularly in historic towns.

“There are ways these masts can be installed in a discreet and sensitive way.

“We have an incredible heritage in North Yorkshire, we need to move with the times but we need to ensure this is protected properly.”

The plans for Harrogate, from WFS Telecom, include up to 10 steel ‘monopoles’ built to serve Vodafone and O2, ranging in height from 39ft to 65ft tall.

The tallest of these masts – to be built outside St Aidan’s School – would be four-and-a-half times the height of a double decker bus.

Five planning applications for masts on Cold Bath Road, Crab Lane, Boroughbridge Road and at the Jubilee Roundabout have been submitted to Harrogate Council in the past few weeks, although the Yorkshire Post understands the Boroughbridge Road application – which would have been built less than an estimated five metres from somebody’s front room – has now been withdrawn.

A planning application for a mast at the Bilton Cricket Club has recently been refused, while four further applications, for masts in Pannal Ash Road, Chain Lane, at King James’s School and off the High Street in Knaresborough, are at pre-planning stage.

Henry Pankhurst, acting chairman of Harrogate Civic Society, said: “Two of the submitted applications are in conservation areas but even when they are not, we feel it is damaging to the street scene. “The effect of sticking big phone masts will totally undermine the area.”

The Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, said he had been contacted by a lot of worried residents over the masts and greater consideration was needed over the plans.

“Nearly everybody now has a mobile phone and there is a need for the infrastructure to support that”, he said.

“But when they are erecting these masts across our area the phone companies need to be aware of the impact on local residents.”

He added: “These are very large masts.

“The concerns that have been raised with me are the impact this will have on the landscape of the area which is one of Harrogate and Knaresborough’s greatest strengths.”

A company spokesman said all of the new masts were necessary to improve 3G coverage.

He also tried to allay concerns over potential health effects, pointing out that all masts were designed and operated to meet with strict guidelines.

Mobile phone masts operate at low power and emit low levels of radiofrequency fields to minimise the exposure of the general public.