Huge 5G Mast Proposed for Boston Manor Playing Fields
Monopole would be three times the height of nearby trees
Diagram of the mast showing size next to trees
An application has been made to Hounslow Council to place a 5G mast on Boston Manor Playing Fields. The 20 metre high monopole would be at the northern end of the park to the rear of houses on Boston Gardens. It would be nearly three times the height of the adjacent trees.
The mast would support 6 antenna apertures and four 600mm dishes and would require the installation of eight equipment cabinets at ground level within a fenced compound.
The application is being made on behalf of the Three telecoms network and is to determine if prior approval is required. Telecoms operators can be exempted from the need to submit a full planning application if they can demonstrate they need to build required infrastructure.
The government have advised planning authorities that the scientific evidence does not give any indication of any extra health risk from 5G technology and therefore this would not be considered as valid grounds for an objection.
Planned location of the mast
5G operates across multiple spectrums and therefore requires additional antennas and new equipment cabinets. The signals that are broadcast are more prone to the shadowing effect of adjacent buildings or structures, and also the effect of tree canopies reducing the broadcast range and effectiveness of the antennas. Consequently, the height of the 5G antennas needs to be raised meaning such high masts, dubbed ‘monster masts’ by objectors will become more common. The higher frequencies that 5G will use can provide more bandwidth and thus greater capacity but the signal will not travel as far as those of previous generations. This will mean that more of these masts will need to be built than were needed for previous generations of mobile technology.
The application reference is PA/2020/2091 and if you wish to make a comment use this reference and contact planningcomments@hounslow.gov.uk.
July 10, 2020