Residents have reacted furiously to a telecoms company’s plans to install a 20 metre ‘monstrosity’ on protected green space in Twyford. 

Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) proposes installing a 5G pole next to King George V Recreation Ground to provide network coverage for operators EE and 3. 

The application has received more than 30 objections from residents and a local council so far, along with a Change.org petition to ‘#SaveTwyfordRec’. 

MBNL argues that, without this new base station, a “coverage gap” will be created, resulting in the local community being transported “back to 2005” in terms of network coverage. 

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However, a raft of neighbours have come out to rally against the plan, describing it as a “blot on the landscape” that would “detract from the character and appearance”. 

One resident, who lives directly opposite the proposed site, said they wouldn’t “in a million years” have bought the property earlier this year if “this […] monstrosity” was in place. 

Another suggested the green space should be left alone as the structures “excessive height and ugliness” would “dominate the view” of the park. 

Julie Crisp started the change.org petition, which at the time of writing had 126 out of the 200 desired signatures, to prevent the plan. 

She complains the mast would “tower above the existing tree line and local properties” creating a “visually intrusive industrial look” to the area and worries that, if it is permitted to go ahead, it could pave the way for more building work being permitted on the site. 

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Twyford Parish Council submitted a comment stating they “respect” the objections raised by residents and expressed that they are “not in favour” of the application. However, they did acknowledge the advantages of better network coverage. 

“It is therefore requested that a new site be found that would have minimal impact on the surrounding area,” the Parish Council said. 

This sentiment is echoed by many residents, who would like to see “alternative proposals” situated closer to the nearby A4, where they suggest the impact on residents would be “greatly reduced”. 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has found this to be the 19th application to install 5G equipment in Wokingham since the start of 2021, the overwhelming majority of which have been refused. 

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This year alone, permission has been granted to erect the equipment on land at Meldreth Way in Lower Earley and land near Ruscombe Way in Twyford.  

Whilst many applications have been refused, including for proposals on land off Colemansmoor Road in Woodley and Keephatch Road near Wokingham Town Centre. 

The plan will be determined by Wokingham Borough Council in due course.