Decision due tonight on Caesars Place 5G mast

Waverley councillors will decide tonight (Wednesday) whether to allow phone company EE to erect a five-metre mast, satellite dishes and equipment cabins on the roof of the Caesars Place development in Ockford Road.

A decision on the controversial development, which has sparked a raft of objections, has been hanging in the balance since February.

The application was deferred at the February planning committee meeting after Godalming

Central and Ockford councillor Paul Follows asked fellow committee members to visit the site before making a decision. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the issue even further, and councillors at the July committee meeting agreed that a visit was essential. That trip was arranged for August 5th, and the committee is due to make its decision today. Plannning officers have recomended approval for the scheme, despite admitting that the plans, for a 5.5m high alpha telecommunications pole, 4 x 600mm dishes and four equipment cabins, would be prominent and visible from the listed buldings in Mill Lane and from the Mill Lane car park. The scheme, planners say, would cause harm to the conservation area, and affect the view from some of the apartments in the developmnt, but that harm would be outweighed by the benefits the 5G mast would bring to the town. Planning officers have added in their report that concerns raised by objectors, including alleged potential damage to the roof of the buiding, noise and lack of security during construction and maintenance work, plus health concerns about the safety of 5G masts, are not planning issues. They have recommended the scheme is approved. To watch the meeting, which starts at 6pm, [L]https://www.youtube.com/user/WaverleyBorough/[L+]visit the council's YouTube channel.[L]