Hemel Hempstead couple raise concerns over 5G installation plans

The couple have raised concerns about the noise and visual impact with the council
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A couple from Hemel Hempstead have raised concerns with Dacorum Borough Council over plans for a 5G mast to be installed outside their home.

Tina and Mike Moore, of Woodhall Farm, are unhappy with a planning application that has been submitted and recommended for approval.

They have raised a number of concerns about the installation of a 5G mast close to their home, including noise and visual impact.

A photograph of the side view of Tina and Mike's houseA photograph of the side view of Tina and Mike's house
A photograph of the side view of Tina and Mike's house

Tina said: "This mast is just 5m from the side of our house with an opening window and is 20m high with eight noisy equipment panels!

"Moreover, three of our neighbours houses opposite will have a view from the front of their houses directly at the mast and equipment panels.

"The mast will be twice the height of the house and the tallest object on the estate and will be seen by numerous houses.

"We have raised issues of noise, closeness to a crossing and busy junction, visual impact, inadequate review of alternative sites but all to no avail.

A photo a one of the 5G masts recently installed at HighfieldA photo a one of the 5G masts recently installed at Highfield
A photo a one of the 5G masts recently installed at Highfield

"There is a 4G mast down the road, about 20 metres away, and when we open the window, with it being so quiet now, we can hear the hum, imagine what it will be like when we sit in the garden and it's five metres away from our house.

"When the planning application was raised in January we did not get a letter from the council regarding the application but our three neighbours across the green did.

"It appears that there is a drive to get the 5G network installed at any cost. We are aware that this is happening all over the country."

The couple attended the Development Committee Meeting on Thursday, June 11, to raise their concerns about the plans.

Mike added: "We gave the council a lot of questions and it has now been deferred for another three weeks.

"We will see what happens at the next meeting. We don't think they've looked at alternative sites.

"We want to raise awareness of this because it is not just about it being noisy and an eye sore for us, possibly living right next to it.

"But on a bigger scale no one knows the long term effects of these 5G masks.

"The safety aspects of the increased microwave radiation is currently using 1999 research which does not look at 24-7 exposures which some residents would have since they are retired or work from home etc."

A spokesperson for Dacorum Borough Council said: “We can confirm that a planning application is scheduled to be heard at the Development Management Committee on 2 July 2020."