Telecommunications Mast Update following recent works

EE appear to have succeeded in putting up their telecommunications mast despite the overwhelming opposition of local residents and councillors and the rejection of previous similar applications through the planning system. It is disappointing that the UK planning rules seem to provide no protection to residents from the risk of telecommunications companies siting masts of this scale right next to their houses even if they live in a conservation area and we are sorry that many  residents are now going to have to look at this inappropriately placed 15 metre mast when they look out of their window or leave their house and that the streetscape in this part of the Faversham Conservation area has been permanently compromised.

Here are some responses to the comments that residents have been making on social media.

·       Disruption to TV signals is possible for people who live near to telecommunication masts. As stated by others if people are finding any disruption to their existing TV signal they should contact Restore TV UK a service funded by EE and other mobile operators which exists to ensure everyone can continue to receive free to view TV services. Contact 0808 13 13 800 or www.restoretv.uk for help. The fact that this risk wasn’t communicated before by EE is another example of the lack of interest they have shown in effective communication with residents.

·       The mast has now been erected and providing submitted plans are kept to we are not expecting any additional ‘top’ to go on. Advances in technology apparently mean that telecommunications companies can now generate effective signals using this more streamlined design.

·       Our interpretation of EE’s plans and our measurement of the new mast suggest that the it does meet the requirements of Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England (2022) in relation to the increased diameter allowed for a new mast. If anyone has evidence that it doesn’t please contact us, so that we can raise with Mobile UK and Swale Planning Enforcement.

·       We don’t have any technical knowledge about the risks associated with these masts and whether they could pose any threat to health, but we have noted that Ofcom’s general advice appears to be that emissions from masts are likely to be safely beneath the allowed limits for Electro Magnetic Fields.