Dear Resident
As some of you may already be aware, we have been notified by the Tennis Club that Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) have received, a ‘forced’ planning application by ‘Mono Consultants’ on behalf of Vodafone and O2, to site a 20 metre high telecoms mast in the overflow car park of the Tennis Club.
We already know some of you are concerned by this application, which is against the Tennis Club wishes as they have neither invited nor instructed the planning application.
The Tennis Club have sent a presentation to their Members, showing the proposed detail and location of the mast. Click here to see plans (TC images and plans). Its installation will result in the Club losing at least 6 much needed car parking bays and possibly more given the potential refusal by members to park in the mast’s immediate vicinity due to perceived health risks. We are deeply concerned about the possible increase in members parking on Estate roads and verges given the loss of spaces, resulting in greater pedestrian safety and increased traffic hazards.
We are of course concerned for the immediate neighbouring residents, but ultimately all residents could be affected. The mast’s 20 metre high protrusion will diminish the Estate’s character and attraction, while eroding the immediate visual amenity of the woodland setting.
Under current Government and local planning guidelines such applications ‘forced’ upon land owners is permitted. Following new legislation, telephone mast providers now have the ability to apply for planning direct to a local council without any consultation or permissions from landowners, in this case, the Tennis Club which is part of the Estate.
The full application can be seen online by clicking on this link (Online Application) and it is now for Elmbridge Borough Council, represented in this case by Mr Matt Harris, the Councils ‘Case Officer’ to make a recommendation on whether planning for the mast should be granted or not.
What can you do?
If you wish to comment please click on this link (Online Objection), noting the following key points:
- The loss of car parking and the effect this will have on Residents, with members of the Club unable to park and forced to park on the Estate roads and verges, an action which is prohibited on the estate.
- The resulting loss of Tennis Club parking may further be exaggerated, with members concerned by the perceived health risks and choosing instead to park on the estate, as above. This will cause increased traffic problems and resulting in greater safety concern for Resident pedestrian traffic.
- Concern over perceived health risks.
- The masts 20 metre high protrusion will weaken Estate character and attraction, and erode the immediate visual amenity of the woodland setting.
- Submission deadline of Fiday 23rd April 2021
These key points have been advised by the Tennis Club’s Legal team and you should include or make reference to these points in your comments.
If you feel strongly about this and do not vote against this now, the application may be successful and this mast may be the first of many on our Estate, the next one could well be sited near your property. Below is an example of a number of 5G masts being proposed throughout Winchester in Hampshire.
Please submit your comments before the submission deadline of Friday 23rd April 2021.
Julian Briant
Chairman
Sent on behalf of the Board
