A 5G mast that sparked anger when it “appeared out of nowhere” has still not been switched 10 months after being installed.

The 65ft pole, erected by the Three network, was put up on the Park Farm estate along Bluebell Road in Ashford in September despite having planning permission refused previously.

At the time, some residents were “appalled” to see the structure go up unexpectedly opposite Skylark Way.

But despite concern about its location, others desperate for improved signal in the area say they are now frustrated it is still not working, with one neighbour saying the estate is not benefitting from it at all.

“Ten months on and while the mast is still here it has not been switched on,” they said.

“Why? When will it be? If it’s not used, will the mast be removed?

“Currently we have the worst of both worlds: all eye-sore and no benefits.”

A spokesman for Three confirmed while “the mast is not yet live, it will be soon”.

Last August, more than 140 people across Park Farm and Bridgefield signed a petition calling for a “long-overdue” 5G mast to be installed near their homes to finally put an end to poor signal.

But it came as a surprise when the previously refused mast appeared a month later.

Residents have long been fighting for better connectivity in the Park Farm area.

In 2011, plans for a mast at the junction between Reed Crescent and Bluebell Road were submitted however the scheme never took off.

There were several objection comments from residents at the time concerned about a mast being an “eye-sore” and expressing concerns over its location.

Plans for a mast in Bluebell Road were again submitted in 2021 but were refused alongside a bid for a mast at the junction of Claudius Grove and Britannia Lane in Kingsnorth.

But Three said the reason the mast was erected was because ABC did not refuse the application within the given deadline, so the company “claimed deemed consent”.

Once up and running, only people on the Three network will be able to benefit from the improved signal.