Thurstaston: plans for Telegraph Road 5G mast toppled

A proposal for a new 5G mast in Thurstaston has been rejected, amid concerns it could harm the look of the local area.

CK Hutchison, which owns Three UK, planned to build a 15-metre tall 5G mast on a grass verge close to Dawpers Hey in Telegraph Road.

Three UK argues that the improved connectivity 5G brings has two clear benefits.

The company says it improves things such as internet connection on mobile phones for local residents and provides better wireless connectivity for businesses, something which is becoming increasingly important in a world where so much work is done remotely.

New masts are needed as 5G signals are shorter.

This means they do not travel as far and need to transmit over and down to users, rather than through buildings.

This factor also means that 5G masts need to be located nearer to residential centres than may have been the case with previous generations of the technology.

However, Wirral Council thought other factors outweighed this and rejected the proposal.

In its decision notice, the local authority said the mast would be "unduly prominent" in the street scene, which could harm "visual amenity and the character of the area".

The statement continued: "Having regard to the justification put forward for the location of the development, the economic and social benefits of improved mobile connectivity are outweighed in this instance by the harm to amenity arising from the location of the mast."