High Wycombe: EE tower on Green Street sparks outrage

A looming tower erected without planning consent at Green Street Youth Centre in High Wycombe by EE has “caused a stir” among locals – and outraged Downley resident Ali Khan, who said the mast is “right over” the house of his elderly parents.

Mr Khan said the tower was put up by EE “in mid-December” and in addition to being “completely out of place”, he said there was “no planning application” for the structure.

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And, set up directly behind the home of his mum and dad, he said he also has fears for “the side effects, the radiation”.

Booker, Cressex, and Castlefield councillor Majid Hussain said he had been “inundated” with calls from angry locals and had been in touch with Bucks Council’s planning department, who confirmed “no application has yet been lodged”.

Mr Khan said EE should have sought planning consent before going ahead.

The EE tower under construction

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The EE mast in context

Bucks Council said it told EE the mast requires planning permission, and if one is not submitted it will consider enforcement action.

“I have been chasing the council,” said Mr Khan. “It came back to me and said there was no planning application for that tower.

“The tower was put up behind my mum and dad’s premises in High Wycombe and when I saw it there, I was quite shocked.

“It’s towering right over their house. You can imagine, it’s peering over. But not just that – we know the side effects, the radiation and everything else which is emitted from these towers.”

He added: “It looks completely out of place.

“It’s one of those peculiar cases where they should have sought planning and got approval from the residents before they actually went ahead.

“They had ample space there to put this tower elsewhere, but they didn’t. It’s a massive, empty plot of land.”

The tower looming over Mr Khan's parent's home

Cllr Hussain said: “I have been inundated by calls from angry residents that live along Green Street. The mast has certainly caused a stir. I have been in touch with the planning officer and appropriate action is being taken by the council accordingly.”

Cabinet member for planning and regeneration, Cllr Gareth Williams: “The temporary mast was erected under the Electronic Communications Code which allows companies to put them up on land they don’t own.

“However, Buckinghamshire Council has informed the provider that the temporary mast requires planning permission.

“No application has yet been lodged and so, as of January 18, we have made the company aware of the need for planning permission and will be monitoring the situation in early February.

“If no application has been submitted and the mast remains in situ, the council reserves the right to consider formal enforcement action.

“We have been in contact with Mr Khan to keep him up to date with proceedings.”

EE has been contacted for comment.

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