Residents furious after 65ft 5G mast put up without any warning

Residents are kicking off after a huge 5G mast was erected outside their homes with 'no warning'.

Claire Brophy blasted the decision to place the 65ft mast right by her garden fence on Melbourne Close, Rochdale.

She said she 'nearly had a heart attack' when she arrived home to see the enormous mast towering over her property.

But she isn't the only one who has complained.

Amy Openshaw also lives on the street. She said it's an eyesore and couldn't believe that neither she nor anyone else was consulted about it.

She told the Manchester Evening News: "It isn't nice to look at. When you're in the rooms at the top of the stairs, it is there, in your face.

"We literally went to work and came home and it was there. I'll probably tell more when all the leaves start dropping off, I'll see it a lot more then. There is a lot of open space where it could've gone, rather than literally there."

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Rochdale Council had originally rejected the planning application for the mast.

Back in March last year, it said it would ‘represent an incongruous and dominant feature’ near homes.

Speaking about it, one local resident said they weren't a 'NIMBY' (not in my back yard), but they are angry at not having a say.

The resident in question said: "I came home from work to find that this monstrosity had been erected at the back of my property."

"We are extremely disappointed and angry that we were not given a chance to appeal this decision."

Adding: "There are other places in the same area where this could have gone causing less obstruction to neighbouring properties.

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"Unfortunately, I'm aware it had to go somewhere and they are an eyesore wherever they go."

Not everyone on the close was angered by the mast, though.

Ange and Lee Shepherd say they just wish they'd been told about it before.

Ange said: "To be honest, the only bits that ever annoyed us were when they were doing all the works and I struggled to get my car in and out. But the only place we can really see it from is the back bedroom.

"It doesn't really bother me, but I can see why it would. But it's the price you pay for progress, isn't it."

Local MP Tony Loyd said he would be contacting government ministers over the incident, urging them to 'urgently' look into it.

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In a statement, Cornerstone said: "We aim to ensure they blend into the area as much as is possible while enabling quality digital connectivity to the communities we serve.

"Cornerstone proposed a base station in Balderstone, Rochdale, to provide essential network connectivity including 5G services to the area. Unfortunately the proposed base station was refused by the Local Planning Authority [the council]. Following this refusal we reviewed all our options, but concluded that the proposed site remained the best option locally.

"A planning appeal was progressed and ultimately allowed. The site has now been developed and screening provided by adjacent trees will minimise views of the proposal within much of the local area."