5G mast near miner statue refused
A bid to erect a tall 5G mast near the Brownhills B&M store has been refused because of the negative impact it would have on a beloved statue of a miner.
Walsall Council planners rejected the prior approval application from Cignal Infrastructure UK Ltd to place a 15 metre monopole on the footpath next to the store.
They outlined a number of concerns including the impact the mast and equipment would have on passing motorists, the existing street scene in the area and heritage assets nearby.
But they also said it would “erode the quality” of the 40ft high ‘Jigger’ the Brownhills Miner statue which stands tall on the traffic island on the adjacent roundabout.
A previous application for a 5G mast in the location was refused in April this year because it was deemed to be out of character with the public realm and street scene in the area.
Cignal put forward this alternative proposal which included a much slimmer and ‘more discreet’ pole design to try to address the concerns.
They said: “This proposal is crucial in meeting the government’s goal in the provision of 5G technology nationwide, especially across the WS8 area of Walsall in this instance.
“The revised design of the phase 9 monopole at 15m AGL is the minimum that can be achieved whilst still allowing for the required network coverage in this area.”
But planners refused permission and said: “The proposed mast due to its design, height and appearance would be visually detrimental in the street scene, and would appear as a stark, visually incongruous feature in the street scene.
“It would be visually prominent in the skyline, drawing the eye, above low-level street furniture.
“The mast would tower above existing street lighting columns, the B&M backdrop and would stand out as a visually prominent structure failing to visually integrate into the public realm.”
They added: “The proposed mast due to its design, height, appearance would be visually detrimental in the street scene, and would appear as a stark, visually incongruous feature which would be seen in shared views of the Mining sculpture.
“The mast would dominate views with the mining sculpture and would appear as an incongruous addition that would erode the quality the mining statue brings to the character of the area and its sense of place.”
They also said they had failed to mitigate against harm caused to heritage assets the former Central School and old council housing buildings.
