Plan for 20 Metre High Mast in Blondin Park Rejected

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Nearly 200 objections received to application despite lockdown

Blondin Park. Picture: Shazz

A plan for a ‘monster mast’ in Blondin Park has been rejected by Ealing Council planners.

The applicant was requesting that the structure be deemed a permitted development and therefore would not be required to get prior approval from the council. Council planners decided that prior approval was required and that they would refuse to give it.

There were nearly 200 objections to the request despite many residents being unaware that the application had been made until after the consultation period.

Drawing from application showing scale of mast

The 20 metre high 5G monopole was to be located within the eastern corner of Blondin Park on a grassed area adjacent to the shelter. It would have been double the height of nearby trees. The park itself is designated Public Open Space. This proposal was part of a plan to replace the existing EE and Three site located at Boundary House, Boston Road, Hanwell.

Local ward councillor David Millican said, “Thank you to everyone who submitted comments, almost everyone objected. We now have to watch out whether they plan to appeal, and then it starts all over again.

“In the meanwhile, we can enjoy our lovely local park without such a massive mast towering over the trees”

The proposal was not rejected due to health concerns despite many of the comments referring to this issue. The government have advised planning authorities that the scientific evidence does not give any indication of any extra risk from this technology and therefore this would not be considered as valid grounds for an objection.

A pre-application consultation was sent to Ealing Council via email on the 9 March. Ealing’s planning officer said that the due to the close proximity to residential dwellings the proposal would be contentious and asked the applicant to reconsider the location, potentially on a rooftop. The applicant said that after a ‘thorough search’ no suitable alternative location could be found.

It is thought likely that given that 5G technology is more prone to be affected by trees and high buildings this will be the first of many applications in the area.

Some local residents’ groups believe that Ealing Council’s arrangements for the publicity of planning applications during the lockdown has been inadequate. The public notices for developments like this one are published in a newspaper which does not circulate in the area which is a requirement of the relevant legislation. The Council have refused to consider the publication of notices in sites like EalingToday.co.uk even though the current guidance from the government is to increase the use of digital media to make residents aware of developments that may affect them. Ealing Council say that if they were to publish notices digitally they would do so on their own site.

May 20, 2020