All residents and users of Handbridge should be aware that a proposal to build a 15-metre (52 foot) 5G phone mast and associated bulky metal cabinets (see above artist's impression) has been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The mast would be sited at the junction of Appleyards Lane and Hartington Street in Handbridge.

CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Ltd proposed this on April 13th and the Council are open to objections to this until May 11th. They only notified residents on April 25th, giving little more than two weeks for residents to get their objections in.

This does not only affect Handbridge residents, but also those children who regularly walk that route to school in the local area.

PLEASE NOTE BEFORE SIGNING - due to a loophole, petitions regarding planning only count as one objection no matter how many signatures are collected, so PLEASE read to the end of this if you can, and if you're willing to help, email planning@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk with your objections (quote reference 23/01222/TEL) or register your complaint on their planning portal.

The details

We are very worried about the following:

Safety

• This site is located right next to a crossroads that gets incredibly busy several times a day with both road traffic and foot traffic.
• The mast would be a distraction and the metal cabinets would severely limit visibility at the junction, for both vehicles and pedestrians, particularly small children who use this busy route to and from school. There is a huge risk of a child getting hit by a car if this obstruction is built.
• There is increased risk of crashes at this busy junction, meaning increased risk of a vehicle crashing into this proposed mast, potentially causing it to fall and damage adjacent property or risk  lives.

Visual aspects

• For context, street lights are 7 metres tall. The proposed ugly 15 metre (52 foot) mast would tower over the surrounding trees and buildings.
• The area this is proposed is comprised of historic housing, including Victorian terraces. The area has been proposed as a conservation area. This structure would utterly destroy the character of this pretty, peaceful residential area.
• This doesn't only impact the residents directly around the proposed mast - this mast would be visible for miles, dominating the skyline and completely changing and negatively impacting the entire local area.
• Once this proposal is passed, it would set a precedent for further destruction of the local environment, not limited to just Handbridge.

Accessibility

• The streets in the area are already lined with cars and this would further limit the available access for pedestrians and cyclists.
• This would severely limit access for wheelchairs and prams.
• This would limit turning space for large vehicles such as the local buses.
• This would prevent Royal Mail vehicles and other public vehicles utilising the corner for parking, as currently happens.

Health

• The possible health effects are not yet fully understood and documented, but under the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, a 5G transmitter might need an exclusion zone of 50m or more. Many houses in the vicinity, where people live, sleep and work, are within this exclusion zone.
• Cooling fans are typically used in these structures, which make a humming noise. There is also associated electrical hum that would negatively impact the lives of nearby residents.
• The mental health of residents having this structure dominate their local area is greatly at risk, particularly vulnerable people who are confined to their homes and will be forced to look at it all day every day. The structure would dominate the local area and negatively impact all those forced to see it every day of their lives, as it visually intrudes upon their homes.

Environment

• EMF waves, particularly the type used by 5G are proven to be harmful to wildlife, especially plants, insects and smaller animals. See this article. 
• This is already an issue with technology such as 4G, however the shorter waves used by 5G technology would have a vastly more detrimental effect on plants, wildlife and potentially humans.
• 5G technology has been found to consume up to three times as much energy as 4G technology, adding to our already huge carbon footprint at a time of environmental crisis.
• Trees are known to block 5G signal and as a beautiful leafy suburb, it would be utterly unacceptable to have any trees felled just to make way for this mast.

Reduction in property value

• 5G masts cause an estimated 20-40% drop in local property value.
• 5G masts are frequently reported to be targets of vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
• Because of the associated risks, including property value and safety risks, a nearby 5G mast will result in an increase of home insurance.

Necessity

• Handbridge already has broadband and great mobile coverage. There is no need for this mast to be built in this location.
• Other locations could be proposed that aren't located a couple of metres away from people's homes. There are several waste-ground locations nearby, or situations that aren't right in the middle of a crowded residential community.

Other resources

Additionally to signing and sharing this petition, please voice your personal objection to the council, this is really important, as petitions only count as one objection in planning despite number of signatures:

• Please view the planning proposal and object to it on the Cheshire West and Chester website here

Nearby Queen’s Park residents recently managed to block a mast being built in their community, but they had 140 written complaints put in – please help us to save our local area in the same way.

You can also email planning@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk with your objections (quote reference 23/01222/TEL)

You do not have to be a local resident to object to this proposal (although local residents views are given the most consideration) - if you are a visitor to Handbridge, work here, or have friends or family who this proposal affects, your view also counts.

The Handbridge Community Association (HCA) supported by Councillors Razia Daniels and Neil Sullivan are also circulating information and a paper petition for those who do not have internet access - please let your family and neighbours who do not have internet access know about this, sign the paper petition if possible, and most importantly send in their individual objections to the council - this is vital.

Act quickly!

CK Networks claim that "high-speed mobile connectivity is the lifeblood of a community". I say that people are the lifeblood of a community. Please help your fellow Handbridge community by signing and sharing this petition, before it's too late and they change the character of Handbridge forever with an unnecessary and inappropriately placed structure.

Please send your individual written objection to the council and encourage others to do so, as remember we only have until May 11th 2023 to object to this abhorrent proposal that would totally change the safety, appearance and character of our local area.