Bath & North East Somerset Council is set to install a host of 5G antennas in the centre of Bath, despite fighting to block a 5G mast on the city outskirts four years ago.
A 5G transmitter | Library image
A total of 16 5G antennas are set to be installed in locations around the city centre as part of an 18-month trial by the local authority.
200-300 volunteers will be handed special sim cards to test the network which, if the trial is successful, will be opened up to the public next spring.
5G mobile networks carry more data than 4G and it’s hoped it will help tackle the notoriously often shoddy data coverage in the city centre.
Some people have had health concerns about the technology, particularly when it was relatively new in 2020, despite health authorities and fact checkers refuting the claims.
5G uses non-ionising radio waves, which do not harm the DNA in cells.
In December 2020, Bath & North East Somerset Council made headlines after its planning committee turned down plans by EE and Three to turn a 4G mast on the edge of Bath into a 5G mast.
The council fought an appeal to uphold the decision, but later gave the go-ahead for another mast to be built nearby.
343 people had objected to the plan to turn it into a 5G mast when it came before the planning committee on 16th December 2020, the local councillors for the Bathavon North ward where it was planned, Kevin Guy and Sarah Warren (both Liberal Democrat), had urged councillors to refuse it.
Mr Guy told the meeting it should be turned down on public safety grounds as there was a nursery only 200 metres away from the mast, and no map included of how far unsafe radiation levels would reach around the mast.
He said: “The danger zone/exclusion zone could be as far – as I know and you know – a metre or 500 metres but, without knowing this key piece of information, it would be irresponsible to approve a planning application knowing it is so close to a nursery.”
Ms Warren told the committee: “All that the 343 residents objecting to this application are asking for is not to be used as guinea pigs in a global experiment.”
She added: “We don’t need 5G. The only people benefiting from this development are the big technology companies. So please, committee, put our residents’ health first.”
Although not at the time, Mr Guy and Ms Warren are now the leader and deputy leader of the council.
Asked if his views on 5G had changed, Mr Guy said: “The Lib Dems locally are fully committed to improving both urban and rural connectivity in B&NES. The 5G pilot scheme in the city is part of that and I personally welcome the scheme.
“As a ward councillor in the past I have objected to a particular mast based on its location, at the bottom of a primary school playing field and accordingly it needed a wider exclusion zone around the mast, away from the primary school play area. An alternative site was found which I did not object to.
“Improving connectivity is part of the Lib Dem 2023 manifesto commitments and as leader I am ensuring we deliver that promise.”
Ms Warren declined to comment citing pre-election period rules around council communications during the general election campaign.
The 5G pilot in Bath city centre, called “One Word”, is being funded by a £773,132k government grant.
The council is currently seeking a certificate of lawfulness from its planning department to install the antenna, which are being located around the city centre because 5G travels shorter distances in urban areas.
The antenna will be dotted along the route of the city’s old walls, from the city centre end of Pulteney Bridge around to the corner of Pierrepont Street and North Parade, with two on Kingsmead Square.
Two will also be located on Union Street and Stall Street.
Further antennas will be located on St James Parade opposite the Forum, outside Bath Spa Station, by the Green Park Road Car Park, and one will be attached to the edge of the roof of No.1 Bath Quays.
