A FLURRY of objections have been submitted to Dudley Council over plans to site a 5G phone mast near to homes in Pedmore.

Residents are calling for a halt to plans to install a 20-metre mast and equipment at the traffic lights near Worcester Lane and Racecourse Lane, which aims to further the roll out of the new 5G mobile network.

UK health chiefs have stressed "there should be no consequences for public health" following the roll out of 5G technology but a spate of vandalism attacks by anti-5G campaigners on masts across the country have been reported and those living nearby the proposed mast site off Worcester Lane, close to Stourbridge Golf Course, fear its installation could make it a target for "mast vigilantes".

More than 30 residents have lodged objections to the proposal submitted by Cornerstone & Telefonica UK Ltd and many fear the lockdown period to try to stop the spread of coronavirus will prevent people from scrutinising the plans properly.

Resident Pauline Horton, on behalf of the Pedmore Mews (Stourbridge) Management Co. Ltd, has lodged a formal complaint about the timing of the planning application and requested it be withdrawn.

She said lockdown and social distancing rules would "have the direct effect of blocking residents without internet access being able to view the detail of the plans".

She added: "Some of the residents in our block are elderly and currently self isolating, some are unwell, some are attending to vulnerable relatives and others are in lockdown in a relative's household and will not have travelled to collect their post. They are not able to travel to view the plans by appointment as this is not an essential journey and does not pass the government’s travel criteria.

"The timing of the application also prevents us from consulting with residents who will be concerned about this proposal to build a vast 20-metre 5G mast so close to a block of residential properties and also within a stone’s throw of an existing telecommunications mast already located in Worcester Lane."

Residents say the mast would be a blot on the landscape and they are worried about the siting of such equipment near a busy road junction where serious road crashes have occurred.

Lee Woodall, of Racecourse Lane, added: "There is already another mast less than 200m down the road and it looks like this has been rushed to take advantage of the current restrictions which delegate planning powers in the local authority."

Councillor Ian Kettle, Dudley Council's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said planning applications will continue to be registered, assessed and determined despite the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures.

He added: “Neighbour letters are being sent to residents notifying them about new applications and site notices are still being posted where required. All applications can be viewed and commented on through the council’s website. "People can email or speak to planning officers to ask questions, discuss plans or request hard copies of plans to be posted to residents without internet access.

“In Dudley, the scheme of delegation already provides for decisions on some planning applications to be delegated to the director for regeneration and enterprise in consultation with the chair of development control committee and this has been used during COVID-19 restrictions.”

A document produced by Cornerstone to highlight the public benefit mobile connectivity is expected to bring, submitted as part of the application process, states 5G "will offer immense opportunities, given the faster and more reliable connectivity that it will provide".

The company says in addition to the business and social benefits faster 5G will bring - it will also help GPs to perform more surgeries remotely, enhance virtual and augmented reality experiences online, enable farm machinery to be operated remotely - saving time and increasing productivity for farmers, and help further the quest for driverless vehicles.

In response to health concerns raised around 5G, Public Health England has said "there may be a may be a small increase in overall exposure to radio waves when 5G is added to an existing network or in a new area" but it stressed "overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health”.

The deadline for comments/objections is Friday May 1 but a council spokesman said comments would be accepted up until the application is determined.