PLANS for two 50ft 5G masts, which had sparked concerns from Southend Airport, have been thrown out by councillors.
CK Hutchinson Networks Ltd wanted to place a huge mast on a grass verge on Whitehouse Road, close to the junction with Aldrin Way, Eastwood.
Another was planned for a footpath outside Eastwood Community Pre-School in Western Approaches, Eastwood.
The masts drew concerns from members of the development control committee who voted against the plans on Wednesday.
Speaking about the Whitehouse Road mast, Daniel Cowan, councillor for St Laurence ward, said: “The height is wrong, the siting is wrong, everything about it is wrong.
“There is no objection overall to 5G in the area.
"There are other locations which would be more suitable and we tried quite hard to work with the applicant to see if they would make some changes before it got to this stage, but unfortunately we were unable to work with them on that.
“The height of the proposed mast is much taller than the local trees.
"This would be an incredibly imposing structure on the pavement with the cabinets as well, making it difficult for people to get past.
"It’s an inappropriate location chosen purely because of existing ducting and financial reasons.”
Steve Buckley, councillor for St Laurence ward, said his comments concerned both applications.
He said: “Due to the strength of feeling a public meeting was recently held at the local community centre at which residents were able to voice their worries and concerns, such as Whitehouse Road being residential and unsuitable for a large structure, the column antennae being adjacent to houses, the development being unfitting in the street scene, and concerns it is overbearing.”
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In a report to the committee, Southend Airport said: “Our calculations show that, the proposed developments would conflict with safeguarding criteria.
"We will therefore need to object to these proposals.”
The applicant would be able to mitigate the airport’s objections if certain conditions were applied in any future application.
David Garston, councillor for Prittlewell ward, said the fact Southend Airport had raised concerns should have been enough to “kill the plans stone dead”.
The committee voted unanimously against both applications.
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