'Eyesore' masts to be taken down and replaced with 75 foot tower
Three ‘eyesore’ masts based near Great Barr will be dismantled to be replaced by a single structure even bigger.
The new lattice tower to be constructed next to Perry Barr Reservoir will reach to 75ft in height and serve Vodafone, Telefonica, 3 and EE as well as the Airwave system which is used by emergency services and public safety organisations.
Birmingham City Council’s planning committee granted permission for the structure next to Rough Road on Thursday.
But there had been a dozen objections submitted.
It was claimed the new mast would have a negative visual impact, would reduce property prices and kill birds if they flew into them.
One comment said: “The temporary structures in place are an eyesore now and the proposed replacement structure will be an eyesore and visually out of keeping with the area.”
However council officers and the committee dismissed the fears.
Councillor Bob Beauchamp said: “It is not an ugly mast, it is a lattice mast which is a replacement for the old one and it will serve the north of Birmingham extremely well and I think it’s in the best position it could possibly be.”
The three temporary masts, the tallest of which is 49ft tall, were put up when a building previously serving the telecommunication firms had to be demolished.
The new tower, which will accommodate all of the equipment from the current structures, will feature 12 antennas and six transmission dishes.
The structure itself will be 65.6 ft tall however it will reach to 75ft in height because three of the dishes will be placed on the top.
It will provide 2G, 3G and 4G service.
