A RESIDENT of a semi-rural village says she is “upset and dismayed” after an “eyesore” 5G mast was installed.

Jill Sharp, of Scholes, between Wyke and Cleckheaton, says the mast and accompanying control boxes have “defaced” the village.

She also claims that the construction has “robbed” Scholes of its “Christmas tree site”, as it has been built “directly” on the space where it is normally unveiled.

“Residents of the semi-rural village of Scholes are understandably outraged, upset and bewildered at a telecoms company’s siting of a 5G mast and a number of large control boxes in the heart of its village centre”, Jill said.

Changes to Government planning law, however, mean some developments no longer need planning permission and instead are allowed to be built under permitted development rights.

Telecoms companies are able to construct new masts without having to formally apply for planning permission. Instead, they must notify the Planning Authority - which in this case is Kirklees Council - that they wish to unveil a mast in a certain place.

That means for all practical purpose, the local community cannot be involved in the way they would be for a normal planning application.

Jill said: “To add insult to injury, the boxes have been scrawled over in paint which resembles graffiti, with the inscription of ‘5G’.

Jill contacted Cleckheaton ward councillor, Kath Pinnock, over the matter, telling her: "We have every right to be proud of our village and every right to object to it being an eyesore”.

Councillor Pinnock - who later agreed in a social media post that the 5G mast and control boxes “look awful” - responded to her by saying: “The national planning guidance, i.e government policy, states that telecoms masts less than 25 metres in height do not have to have planning permission”, adding that “the masts make a planning application to the council, but this cannot be refused except in very limited circumstances.

“The fact is that this then enables the mess that has been created in Scholes.

“We have already contacted planners and asked that the site be tidied. Whether or not we can achieve other improvements I’m not sure, but we will try.”

She added that “local people are being shut out of important developments in their neighbourhood”, while “planning changes are very important to people as they can change an area forever. In a democracy, people have a right for their voice to be heard.”

Cllr John Lawson, of Cleckheaton, added: “I have been to the site and it does look intrusive - as if the company has not considered the village at all.

“We know that improved mobile connectivity is important and that telecoms infrastructure has to be built but, surely, this must not be at the expense of the appearance of the lovely Scholes village.”

A Three spokesperson said: “Access to 5G has a vital role to play in boosting local economies, helping residents and businesses get faster and more reliable network coverage. This is why we’re working with the local council in Kirklees to roll out the UK’s fastest 5G network so that we can keep everyone connected both now and in the future.

“While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they do need to be situated near to where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.”

A covering letter, sent to the Council through the planning portal outlining the need for the scheme, said: "The proposed development is within the limits set out for permitted development with Prior Approval. The location enables the whole of the surrounding area to benefit from improved 5G network coverage and has been designed to be future proof, thus enabling other technologies to be deployed depending upon the demand required."