PLANS to install a 19-metre high 5G mast in Cashes Green have been rejected by Stroud District Council after 186 people complained.

Hutchinson 3G UK Limited wanted to install the 5G pole in Cashes Green Road, next to the Prince of Wales pub.

But the council ruled on November 16 that the proposal should not go ahead.

Among the 186 objections to the plans was one from Cainscross Parish Council, plus a residents’ petition with 64 signatures.

The council report concluded that “the siting and appearance of the proposed mast and associated equipment would lead to a significant detrimental effect and cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area.

"Due to the limited number of alternative sites considered and the small search area, the Local Planning Authority is not satisfied that other potential sites have been properly explored and the submitted evidence has not sufficiently demonstrated the unsuitability of alternative sites within the wider locality."

Residents’ objections to the proposed mast included concerns about its appearance and the safety of increased levels of radiation in the local environment.

Resident Rachana Sequoia, who lives a matter of metres from the existing 4G mast, said: “I’m so relieved that the council has listened to our concerns about this new mast. The current 4G mast is a complete eyesore. We were told it was safe when it was first put up, but I’ve since learnt that there’s a huge amount of scientific evidence that says phone-mast radiation is an invisible pollutant and a health threat.

“We know next-to-nothing about the safety of 5G, which will add even more radiation to the mix yet it is being rolled out regardless.”

Planning officers are directed not to take into account any criteria other than siting and appearance when considering phone mast applications, but several local authorities in the UK and Ireland have said they will apply the ‘precautionary principle’ when assessing the mass rollout of untested 5G technology.

This puts the rollout on hold for up to two years in order to enable information-gathering and more educated decision-making.

Richard House of the Stop 5G (Stroud) campaign said: “Natural justice has been done in the refusal of this application, and some faith has been restored that local democracy can still function, and stop big tech riding roughshod over local communities against their will. But this is just the start. All we’re asking for is that the Government admit to the hopelessly flawed nature of their current safety guidelines, and instigate independent research into this technology. Until they do, local Stroud communities will continue to vociferously refuse to be guinea pigs in the face of this untested technology.”

A new application for three additional antennas and two dishes on the 51m tall Whiteshill mast has been received by the planning office.