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Leigh On sea News. A NEWLY-elected Conservative councillor for West Leigh Ward is calling on Southend City Council to reject plans for a large internet mast to be erected on Marine Parade.
A NEWLY-elected Conservative councillor for West Leigh Ward is calling on Southend City Council to reject plans for a large internet mast to be erected on Marine Parade.
A NEWLY-elected Conservative councillor for West Leigh Ward is calling on Southend City Council to reject plans for a large internet mast to be erected on Marine Parade.
Coun Owen Cartey is outraged that the 15-meter 5G mast and accompanying cabinets are planned for erection by the public gardens near Thames Drive and Belton Way West, destroying ‘one of the best public views in Southend.’
Whilst residents living nearby have been informed of the recent planning application, Coun Cartey says it is also important to consider the views of residents who make use of the area as an amenity.
Coun Cartey said: “This application will prove a complete slight on the landscape many of us enjoy in West Leigh.
“It will not only impact those residents who live along Marine Parade, but prove a frustration to those of us who use the Parade at our own leisure for running, dog walking or a casual stroll. You wouldn’t see a mast erected in Chalkwell Park or Priory Park, so why ruin one of the best public views in Southend? No way!”
After the consultation concluded, local councillors pushed for any decision to come before the Development Control Committee and have ‘called in’ this matter to be discussed and voted on by the full planning committee at the Council.
This will give residents the opportunity to air their views in good time for the up coming committee sitting.
Prior to the May 23 conclusion, Coun Cartey was calling on Leigh residents to unite against the proposals.
He said: “With the consultation so close to concluding, it was important that our community made its views known to the Council.
In the last week I have been delivering letters to residents outside of the direct consultation area so that they can be armed with valid planning grounds for an objection. If residents need any additional support, they should not hesitate to contact either myself or the Planning Department at the Council.”
Peter Wexham, Leigh Lib Dem councillor disagreed with the campaign.
He said: “Coun Carty works for a Tory MP and their Government have given these utilities the right to put them up where they are needed to get the coverage for the latest G5 smartphones that all the residents of the area will be using.
“Whilst he is working in Westminster, he should knock on the Minister’s door. He cannot have it both ways.
“It seems to me that as these phones get smaller with more details in them the masts are getting bigger and uglier, – look at the one on the corner of Belton Way East and Belton Gardens.”
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