Residents of Shell Road SE13 have been alarmed by a proposal to site a 20 metre high telecoms mast at the corner of Shell Rd and Nuding close, by the side of the low rise flats.
So far there have been 19 objections to the planning application, which has been submitted by DOT Surveyors on behalf of Hutchison 3G UK, the operator of the Three network.
Residents say the mast will have a negative visual impact on the area. At 20m it is almost twice the size of the nearby flats. They say it will also detract from the views from the nearby Hillyfields park. The mast is positioned just to the east of the conservation area.
There is also concern the mast could endanger the safety of residents in the area. Several masts were vandalised by activists because of a conspiracy theory linking 5G technology to the spread of coronavirus.
Some were set ablaze and as a result there are fears the proposed site of the mast is far too close to local buildings.
Objectors say the mast and ancillary equipment will add to visual clutter in the area. They also claim the equipment is badly designed, with tall, bulky cabinets overshadowing local gardens. The mast itself will dominate the surrounding area.
Finally, they say the planning application did not follow the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development. Little effort was made to consult the public or to provide a sympathetic design.
One local resident said there was clearly no attempt to consider views of the skyline and roofscapes in the siting of the mast.
The surveyors also do not seem to have considered siting the mast in a commercial or industrial location. The planning application can be found here: ttps://planning.lewisham.gov.uk/online-applications/caseDetails.do?action=dispatch&keyVal=_LEWIS_DCAPR_105469&caseType=Application
Comments and objections can be sent by email to l planning@lewisham.gov.uk before 15th August 2020.