Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council refuse plans for 5G telecoms mast to be built in Kingsclere

Plans for a 5G telecoms mast to be placed near the centre of Kingsclere have been refused by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The mast and associated cables and works were proposed to be placed on George Street, just south of the road’s junction with Coppice Road, but the plans were denied for visual and safety reasons.

The council received 52 letters of objection from Kingsclere residents, with most objecting due to the mast’s planned and prominent location within the village.

In her notice of refusal, Basingstoke and Deane’s head of planning sustainability and infrastructure Ruth Ormella said: “The site is located within a visually prominent location, in close proximity to residential dwellings, the highway, pedestrian crossings and areas of open space, and by virtue of the proposals scale, height and appearance, the proposed development would not positively contribute to the streetscene, to the detriment of the visual amenity of the area.”

She also said: “Insufficient information has been submitted to evidence that the development would not give rise to highway safety issues on George Street.”

Kingsclere Parish Council, which acknowledged the village’s future need for the mast for the better mobile phone signal coverage it provides, hopes it can work with developers to find a more suitable location for the mast to be installed.