Beverley Town Council is raising concerns regarding the imminent arrival of more telecommunication masts in the town.
Companies installing telecommunications infrastructure can do so under Government sanctioned permitted development rights. This means they do not have to go through the traditional planning system and can place equipment in communities without requiring any permissions. This has resulted in a proliferation of new ground-based masts being installed throughout Hull, often at little or no notice to residents.
A spokesperson for the Town Council said: “Beverley Town Council is aware companies wishing to provide alternative internet connection services are planning to install masts in the town and there is very little residents or Town Councillors can do regarding this. However, councillors also appreciate it is a fine balance, because some areas of Beverley experience poor 4G and 5G signals, with homes and businesses having limited internet provider options. Therefore, many will welcome easier access to alternative service providers at more competitive prices, but there will also be a lot residents concerned that new masts could appear on their streets or outside their homes with very little notice.”
From what the Town Council understands, one of the main reasons for these masts is a lack of joined-up work between different companies. For example, a new company could pay an existing company to use their infrastructure that is already in place, with customers then choosing which service provider they go with.
This would make selecting and changing internet providers as simple as switching electric or gas companies – the infrastructure remains the same, but you can choose who you pay to deliver the service. For telecommunications, without sharing infrastructure, potentially each provider has to install their own.
This matter is of great concern to residents. Not only does it result in untidy and cluttered street-scenes and a breakdown of trust between companies and residents, but it cannot be either financially or environmentally responsible to replicate such items that could be mutually shared.
Beverley Town Council has now written to Rt. Hon Graham Stuart MP for Beverley and Holderness, asking if he can use his influence as a Member of Parliament to encourage businesses to work together and share infrastructure, rather than each individual company placing their own items in the same areas. In addition, the Town Council has also asked if Mr Stuart can pursue this matter in legislation, to ensure there is a legal obligation on companies to share infrastructure, so as to reduce duplication and the use of permitted development rights.
The Town Council spokesperson added: “We appreciate the need for a wider choice and more reliable telecommunication services in Beverley, which is why alternative providers are welcomed, but there is genuine concern that if the infrastructure is not shared between companies, the whole community will suffer due the initial disruption to install masts and then the continued negative impact caused by multiple masts in unsuitable locations. The Town Council is also concerned that if companies refuse to share infrastructure, alternative providers will simply decide to give up on this area and focus their offer elsewhere, which would reduce options for residents and businesses.”
Beverley Town Council hopes that the companies involved will agree to share their infrastructure, which will be of significant benefit not just to individual consumers, but to the town as a whole.