'An eyesore': Great Barr cake shop owner speaks out on fears over 5G mast outside her business

Telecommunications infrastructure company Cornerstone wants to build the 5G station outside the Make a Wish cake shop on Wallingford Avenue in Pheasey.

The company, which supports Virgin Media, O2, and Vodafone, submitted two applications for the project, but Walsall Council has refused both.

Officers said the proposals ‘would appear incongruous on the street scene and be visually detrimental, especially to those in nearby residential properties’.

Cornerstone has since appealed to the planning inspectorate to try and override the refusal.

Make a Wish offers bespoke celebration cakes and will be celebrating its 20th anniversary later this year.

Vicky Wong has owned the business for nearly eight years, and before that, it was owned by Julie Chiles.

Square Dot Consulting, representing Vicky, said the details in the application are ‘inaccurate and misleading’ and ‘does not show a true representation of the proposed monopole or cabinet size’ in relation to Make a Wish.

It also said the cabinets and mast would block sight lines to and from the cake shop, which is vital for the business that relies on passing trade.

Vicky, 42, said: “It’s going to be an eyesore and it will completely obscure the shop front.

“The shop is there to spread the word that we’re a business and we have something to offer. To obscure it would void the whole reason for having a shop front.

“We’re small businesses. We’re trying to earn a living and be here for the community. If we can’t make it work, it’s a shame.”

In 2020, Cornerstone submitted an application for a 20-metre monopole on nearby Collingwood Drive, which Walsall Council approved.

But Cornerstone said the installation of that mast couldn’t go ahead due to ‘unforeseen conflict with the underground services’.

In response to the latest refusal, Cornerstone appealed to the planning inspectorate, believing Walsall Council hasn’t given consideration to the similar nearby scheme that was approved.

Cornerstone argued that the council’s planning officers failed to recognise the limitations faced by the company in terms of the location requirements and site availability.

It also said that the council had focused on the development’s proximity to residential properties, rather than considering site specific mitigation, or balancing potential harm against the associated benefits of the development.

A spokesperson from Cornerstone said: “Cornerstone understands that our mobile infrastructure impacts communities and can lead to concern about proposed developments.

“For this reason, we give great consideration to the location and design of our infrastructure.

“The proposed base station at Pheasey was refused by the Local Planning Authority in August 2024.

“After reviewing the options locally, Cornerstone decided to appeal this refusal, and we are now awaiting the decision.”