The leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has called for "damaging" plans to install a 5G mast outside the Royal Veterinary College to be rejected.

CK Hutchison Networks, better known as the mobile provider Three, has launched a pre-application for 15 metres telecommunications pole on Green Belt land in Hawkshead Lane in Brookmans Park.

According to the plans, the mast would tower well above the trees at the site, which stand between 8 metres and 10 metres.

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Paul Zukowskyj, leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and councillor for Welham Green and Hatfield South, has called planners to reject the application, which he believes is "damaging to the green belt".

"Once more Hutchison Telecomms are looking to blight our area without a care in the world, in this instance putting a massive tower right outside the Royal Vet College, in the heart of the Green Belt, without any attempt to disguise the post or hide the ugly cabinets," he said.

"It’s just not good enough. I do wonder if the planner proposing this has even visited the site? Had they done so they would have seen, as with so many other locations they have proposed such installations, how very inappropriate the location is.

"I call on the borough council planners to reject this proposal out of hand as simply too damaging to the green belt and to the neighbour’s business."

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This is not the first time an application for a 5G mast has been made for the site, with CK Hutchison Networks having an application refused for a 15 metre pole back April.

A spokeswoman from Hutchison told the Welwyn Hatfield Times that the previous rejection had been considered in the application, and that the mast is "vital" for the people of Brookmans Park.

"5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Brookmans Park," they said. 

"We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this site will be critical to making that happen.

"Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.

"We considered the council’s reasons for a previous refusal of a nearby mast, and have addressed those concerns by moving the location of the mast onto a verge to avoid restricting the footpath, in order to mitigate any impact on pedestrians.

"We will also use a slimmer pole to reduce the visual impact."

They also saw plans for another 15 metre mast in Birdcroft Road, off Parkway, rejected in July last year.

The plans would have seen the pole installed in a conservation area and ruined the town’s iconic view of Coronation Fountain and expansive parkland, designed by town founder Sir Ebenezer Howard.

More than 120 objections to the Parkway mast were submitted, including from ward councillors Michal Siewniak and Gemma Moore.