Plans withdrawn for ‘gargantuan’ 5G phone mast at holiday camp

Bruce Sinclair, local democracy reporter

Plans to erect a “gargantuan eyesore“ 5G phone mast at a large holiday camp have been withdrawn.

Freshwave Facilities Limited wanted to erect a mast and ancillary antennae reaching a maximum height of 23.14 metres, to boost the Vodafone signal, at Quay West Holiday Park, New Quay in Ceredigion.

In the supporting statement submitted to Ceredigion planners, the agent Rapleys said the mast would both boost the signal in the caravan park and allow the continued provision of 3G and 4G mobile connections to the surrounding area, and also provide improved 5G services for Vodafone, introducing ultra-fast mobile connectivity.

There were 73 objections made about the application.

Local resident Henry Dent said the “general incongruous external appearance, will ensure the structure is clearly visible from distant views across New Quay and from the coastline”.

Loren Bromley added: “Ty Halen is our cherished family home that we have personally built from the ground up. It beggars’ belief that we find ourselves in this unimaginable situation, where we are being subjected to the erection of a 23-metre 5G monopole tower on what is essentially the bottom of our garden.

“We have been provided with sound and professional advice from a reputable local estate agent within recent days, where they have informed us that given this gargantuan eyesore will sit directly on and adjacent to our boundary line, it will result in a significant devaluation of our property, leaving us in negative equity through no fault of our own.”

Leigh Cooper, of Coopers Roofing said the proposal should be sited “out of view of local residents that have paid good money to live in New Quay”.

New Quay Town Council also objected to the location and size of the mast, due to its proximity to nearby households and its location in a Special Landscape Area, saying the mast does not benefit the community, only park users.

Phone reception

There were four representations supporting the plans, saying it would improve phone reception.

A planning officer report with a recommendation of refusal was relayed to the agent, the agent later confirmed that they wished to withdraw.

“The impact of the development on the amenity of nearby occupiers is profound by the number of objections received to the application,” the report said.

“It is considered that the mass, by reason of its siting, would have a significant detrimental impact on the amenity of nearby occupiers.”

The report also criticised the “limited” site selection process made by the applicant, saying information requested by planners to make the enquiry valid not submitted by the developer.