Residents in the quiet town of Rochdale, England, were taken aback when they returned home after a long day at work only to find that a 65-foot-tall 5G mast had been erected within “touching distance” of their backyards. The locals were “extremely disappointed” that they had not received any prior notification of the installation of the 5G mast before it suddenly appeared right next to their homes.
One of the residents, Clare Brophy, a busy mother in the neighborhood, was horrified to see the unsightly tower standing tall next to her backyard. She nearly had a heart attack when she returned home from work and found the tower looming over her backyard fence, seemingly looking onto her property with its robotic eyes.
Amy Openshaw, another local resident, was furious to see the 5G mast built near her property without any warning from the installers. She spoke to the British newspaper Manchester News about the ordeal and how it is affecting her and her family.
“It isn’t nice to look at. When you’re in the rooms at the top of the stairs, it is there, in your face. We literally went to work and came home, and it was there. I’ll probably tell more when all the leaves start dropping off. I’ll see it a lot more then. There is a lot of open space where it could’ve gone, rather than literally there.”
Further research indicates that Rochdale council refused permission from the planners to install the mast right where they put it. The city council suggested that the 5G mast would “represent an incongruous and dominant feature” and, therefore, should not be installed. Nevertheless, the planners went forward with its installation and ruined the curb appeal of homeowners’ properties in the area.
Eventually, the Rochdale council’s decision was overturned, and the metal “monstrosity” was installed near the backyards of various homeowners in the town.
However, residents are not happy with the placement of the mast and feel that they should have been consulted before the decision was made. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they wished they had received better communication about the 5G pole installed right near their home.
“I came home from work to find that this monstrosity had been erected at the back of my property,” they said. “We are extremely disappointed and angry that we were not given a chance to appeal this decision.”
Although mobile infrastructure firm Cornerstone assured that it “gives great consideration to minimizing the visual impact” of its 5G equipment, locals believe that the firm could have done much better in its decision to install it in Rochdale.
“There are other places in the same area where this could have gone causing less obstruction to neighbor properties,” residents added. “Unfortunately, I’m aware it had to go somewhere, and they are an eyesore wherever they go.”
The installation of 5G masts has been a controversial topic for some time now, with many people expressing concerns over the potential health effects of the technology. Despite this, the UK government has pushed ahead with plans to roll out 5G networks across the country, with the aim of providing better connectivity and faster internet speeds.
While the benefits of 5G technology are clear, it is essential that local councils and mobile infrastructure companies work together to ensure that masts are installed in suitable locations that do not negatively impact the lives of local residents. In this case, it is clear that the installation of the mast has caused significant distress to residents in the area, and it is crucial that steps are taken to address their concerns.
Source: AWM
Leave a Comment