Rotherham Council rejects mobile mast plans at historic church

PLANS to place a mobile phone mast beside a village’s 19th century church have been thrown out by Rotherham Council.

The application for an 18-metre pole and four cabinets at Woodsetts crossroads — outside the Butcher’s Arms pub and across from St George’s Church — was labelled “cultural vandalism” by one objector.

Applicants CK Hutchison Networks (UK), which operates the network for phone firm Three, said better 5G coverage was needed.

There were ten objections to the proposal and seven letters in support.

The council ruled the telecoms mast would form an “incongruous feature” in the street because of the prominent siting in the historical centre of the village.

RMBC also said that a full assessment of alternative sites — including more suitable ones put forward by Woodsetts Parish Council — had not taken place.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “Whilst the council acknowledges that the government places a high priority on the provision of high quality communications, and that several letters in support of the application have stated that there is a need for an improved service in the area, it is considered that this is not the most appropriate site for the mast and that the applicant has failed to supply any information as to why other sites put forward are not acceptable.”

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