A PROPOSED telecoms mast in the heart of the Wye Valley will deprive the emergency services of a radio signal in the heart of the Wye Valley.

Ironically, campaigners have been told that while the present Tetra system is used widely by the emergency services, the new 4G system used by EE will mean there is no coverage for the emergency services when they are in the Whitebrook area.

EE have applied for a 10 metre high mast at Tump Farm, Whitebrook for use by the emergency services along with the necessary cabinets and a generator and it is expected the plans will go before Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee in November.

County Councillor Debby Blakebrough, who has been campaigning on behalf of residents, said they have tried to seek a compromise and asked for the site to be moved a few metres to the corner of the field to protect the natural beauty of the view. “However even this small ask is being ignored,” she added.

“Although we are not against the masts as we need the emergency services to be able to use their radios in the area, we are asking EE to work with us, not against us in keeping the area beautiful.”

One of the campaigners Catherine Marsh explained the proposed site is only a few metres from the Wye Valley Walk on the track from Pen-Y-Fan Green down to Whitebrook and at a point where the trees open out to reveal the river below.

“Western Power have told me that they have been paid to install a power supply to the site, yet the planning application has not been approved,” she added. Local residents claim EE is using the excuse ‘temporary measure’ for working on the site before permission is granted. They think it’s cheaper and easier for EE to put the mast in this position but at the cost of destroying a popular tourist vista.

The AONB office based in Monmouth, whose remit is to help conserve the Wye Valley area have considerable concerns about the proposed development in this location.

In a response placed on the planning portal for the application they said: “We acknowledge that the reduced height and monopole design would be less harmful than the previously proposed 15m lattice tower. However we do not consider that this modification in design and scale adequately addresses the impact on the conservation and enhancement of the unique character and Special Qualities of the landscape at this location.

“Planning Policy Wales (2016) states that development management decisions affecting AONBs should favour conservation of natural beauty, although it will also be appropriate to have regard to the economic and social well-being of the areas.

“In the absence of an agreed alternative site we do not believe that the current site can be approved without significantly increasing the screening,” they conclude.

EE have been asked for a comment, but as yet have not responded.