Residents of The Willows estate off Fluin Lane are disappointed that they did not receive notification of a planning application seeking to erect a 60 feet high telecommunications mast on the grass verge in front of their homes.

The application was submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council on behalf of telecoms provider, Three (H3G), as a 'solution for improving 5G coverage' in Frodsham.

The 18 metre pole, which comes with three additional equipment cabinets, would reach seven metres higher than the trees lining this part of Fluin Lane.

The proposed development forms part of the government's vision for digital connectivity, which has given rise to planning reforms making it easier for 5G providers to install such masts.

Although a pre-application enquiry sheet was sent to Frodsham Manor and Frodsham St Luke's Primary Schools – who have not yet issued a response – Willows residents say that they had not been told about the planned development by the Council or the telecoms provider.

One such resident, Ken Crouch, said: "I think it's wrong that we've received no correspondence about it. I want the other residents of this estate to be aware of what is about to happen.

"The government says we have to have these 5G masts and so there's no way they can be stopped. But this 60-foot tower is quite a dramatic and intrusive development, and I wonder whether others will be going up in Frodsham. This is the only application so far but one mast certainly won't cover the whole area."

Frodsham ward Councillor, Lynn Riley, also criticised the lack of consultation with the community, saying: "This is yet another classic example of bad practice that is so often the case for Frodsham.

"This application seeks to add key infrastructure but the whole approach and conclusion is wrong for local residents, as the proposed site is between two schools, our community centre and possibly one of the most concentrated residential areas in the town."

Cllr Riley also suggested that if the Council had a planning register of suitable sites for developments such as waste handling centres, incinerators and telecoms masts, it might have helped to influence Three's choice of location.

"If only we had the reassurance that the Council as the planning authority had its house in order, we might have been involved in earlier discussions about potentially better locations for 60-foot masts just off our main residential area," she said.

"We will be calling on Cheshire West and Chester to refuse this application and to work with our community to listen to what local residents have to say."

Within their application, Three acknowledged that: "It is recognised that the very nature of installing new 5G communications infrastructure within an urban setting requires a well-measured balance between the need to extend practical coverage with the risk of increasing visual intrusion."

They added that the higher radio frequencies used for 5G cannot travel as far as the frequencies currently in use, making it necessary to place the pole within the urban setting rather than on its outskirts.

"Through our site search we identified that the proposed site is situated nearby to Frodsham Area of Archeological Potential and Overton, St Lawrence's (Frodsham) Conservation Area.

"Although our proposed site is not situated within these specified designated areas, we are aware of their significance and have still carefully considered the positioning and appearance of the telecommunications apparatus."

The apparatus will be coloured green and "carefully positioned on a small grassed area, off the pavement so not to impede pedestrians and also to have the trees on green area to provide some screening." Because of this, Three claim that the development is "unlikely to have any material impact on the local area."

Other potential sites for the pole which were later discounted include Langdale Way, Blue Hatch, Frodsham High Street, Bridge Lane and the Community Centre Playing Fields.

Although encouraged by the government to promote the delivery of 5G connectivity, Cheshire West and Chester Council do have the power to refuse such applications on certain grounds, and is inviting comments on the proposal from members of the public.

Local residents have until Friday (14 May) to share their views on this application. This can be done by visiting the Cheshire West and Chester Council Planning Department website and clicking 'See or comment on a planning application'.

The following page will give instructions as to how comments can be made.

The full application can be viewed here.

You can discuss the proposal further by contacting Planning Team Manager, Nick Smith ([email protected]), Bethan Armstrong ([email protected]) or Steve Lewis ([email protected]).