Green light for phone mast at sports centre to improve Shrewsbury's 4G
A sports centre in Shrewsbury is set to replace some of its floodlights with telecommunications masts which will improve 4G reception across the town.
Planning permission has been granted for one of the sets of floodlights at the running track at London Road Sports Centre to be replaced by a 25 metre mast, with the floodlights being reattached to the new structures.
The new column, which will contain all the telecommunications equipment, will be installed on behalf of Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) which will allow both EE and Three UK customers to get better service in the area.
The application was launched after the applicant was told they would have to remove their current facilities at the junction of the B4380 and the A458 which will soon be decommissioned.
Shrewsbury College, which is based at the London Road site, is set to get a financial contribution for allowing the work to go ahead.
In a planning statement submitted with the planning application, Richard Morison of the Pegasus Group, said: "The proposed telecommunications mast and antenna will ensure technical coverage for cellular 2G, 3G and 4G network coverage will be maintained and enhanced on behalf of Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) which brings both EE and Three UK competitive coverage to the local community and community businesses.
"MBNL is a joint venture between EE and Three UK where infrastructure is shared between operators.
"Increasing consumer demand, especially for data is putting demands on mobile operators for improved connectivity and more capacity on their networks.
"This is driven by the widespread adoption of smartphones and the rapid uptake of tablet devices, and the way consumers are now using them, often choosing to do so when they have a fixed connection available.
"In addition, the Government has ambitious aspirations for improving connectivity and coverage.
"All these factors result in the need to upgrade and improve mobile networks, which will not function without the necessary infrastructure on which they rely.
"The application site is needed to replace the lost radio coverage that will be caused when the existing site is decommissioned.
"There is an ongoing need to maintain and enhance the sports centre’s facilities. This encourages new members but also helps retain existing members and overall use of the centre.
"Maintaining the centre is otherwise expensive and time consuming. Shared Access will provide a capital contribution to the club on commencement of development.
"The application site is currently occupied by a 21m tall floodlights, this being one of a series of eight identical lights that serve the athletics track within the wider sports ground site.
"The application site is located on the southeast side of the athletics track, on a grass verge occupying land between the track itself and a large car park that serves the sports centre and Shrewsbury College."
Shrewsbury Colleges Group wrote in support of the plans, saying they would improve mobile phone reception in the area as well as providing much needed funds.
Shropshire Council has now approved the plans.
