AN “UGLY” and “monstrous” 5G mast has been given the thumbs down by planning officers after waves of objections from concerned residents.

Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd wanted to erect an 18-metre 5G mast on a verge opposite Windsor Gospel Hall in Ruddlesway, Dedworth, as they identified this patch as being “necessary” for their business development and met their specific technical and operational requirements.

Since the plan’s announcement, over 50 nearby residents lodged objections to the council, urging them to refuse the scheme.

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The main concerns many locals submitted revolved around the mast being “too high and obstructive”, resulting in harming the character of the area, and damaging the green space as it would have been erected on a verge.

One angry resident called the mast “hideous, ugly, monstrous, and complete blot on the landscape” and feared it would devalue the properties in the area.

Slough Observer: Drawing of the proposed 18m mastDrawing of the proposed 18m mast

They said: “The first impression upon entering this once beautiful and Royal town as approached from the west (as far away as, at least, Henley-Upon-Thames) will be of your ill-thought and misjudged proposed eyesore.

“Driving along pristine and natural country lanes, West Windsor and Dedworth are the first larger, urban development in the entire journey.

“Most of Windsor’s character has already been lost (due to over-development) and this shocking proposal is just the final nail in the coffin, in my opinion.”

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Several complaints suggested the mast should be installed in an industrial estate like the one in Tinkers Lane, keeping the ‘eyesore’ poles away from residential areas.

Royal Borough planning officers ultimately agreed with residents that the pole would add to the “visual clutter” of the area and be “detrimental” to the openness of the green space.