By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Council is to trial 5G in the city centre, despite the current council leader and deputy leader opposing a 5G mast on the outskirts in 2020 .
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 Bath and North East Somerset Council. 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 its 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,the 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 December 16 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.
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’s 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 on the edge of the roof of No.1 Bath Quays.
Plans for ‘Asian Fusion Cuisine’. A historic townhouse in the centre of Bath, once believed to be occupied by one of the city’s leading citizens, could soon be turned into an Asian restaurant.
A plaque on No. 1 North Parade Buildings, just across from Sally Lunn’s, claims it was once home of John Palmer, who was Bath’s MP from 1801-1807, twice Mayor of Bath, and who introduced mail coaches to the postal service. But soon the Grade II listed building could be home to “Asian fusion cuisine” amid plans to turn the building — which was most recently a Betfred — into a restaurant.
A planning application has been submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council to repaint the signage, install a kitchen, refit upgraded toilet facilities, and remove modern partitions inside to create more space for the restaurant. A partial lower ceiling would be installed to enclose ducting and services on the ceiling.
You can view and comment on the plans here: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.
Bath Voice News: council trials 5G masts in city centre
