Sheffield Council apologises for ‘oversight’ which led to planning approval of 5G mast

The council had 56 days from receiving the three planning applications, made by Cornerstone & Vodafone Ltd, to decide whether to approve or refuse them.

The authority, however, said it was not able to process the applications within the given timeframe and, as a result, the company now has the go-ahead to erect the masts.

If they had been processed by the deadline, the mast on Rustlings Road would be been rejected, Sheffield Council said.

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Two of the masts, however, on Greenhill Parkway and Laycocks Sports Club on Archer Road, would have been given approval.

Councillor Bob Johnson, Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability at Sheffield City Council, said: “The Council apologises for this mistake but hope people will understand we are operating in extraordinary circumstances which have led to these oversights occurring.

“We understand residents’ depth of feeling about the location of these masts and we are sorry that they were not properly determined within the time limit.

“In relation to Rustlings Road, we are in contact with the company to express our view that this is an inappropriate site for this mast and are actively working with them to discuss alternatives.

“We are also writing to all residents in the three areas to explain the situation.”

There is some public concern, which has mainly been spread on social media, focusing on whether the new 5G technology is bad for our health.