A bid for a 5G mast near a town centre has been slated as a “blight on the landscape”.

Plans for the 15 metre high 5G mast in Swanley were submitted to Sevenoaks District Council on July 7.

The bid was made by CK Hutchison Networks - the telecommunications giant which owns Three network.

Planning documents state: “In this location, existing mast sites are not capable of supporting additional equipment to extend coverage.

“There is an acute need for a new base station to provide effective service coverage and in this case, the height of the proposed street pole is the minimum required to bring the benefits of 5G to this area.”

The pole is set to be accompanied by equipment cabinets at is base. The mast is planned to be near Swanley town centre, opposite the 21st Moto Honda dealership.

However, 41 Swanely residents wrote to the council to express their objections.

“We find the 4G supply adequate for resident and business use - why do we need more?” one resident queried.

They continued: “Putting aside the eyesore of such a structure in an otherwise green area of Swanley, we feel it is not appropriate to be close to private properties, schools, leisure centre, and an elderly people's home. Internet provision is good enough for this area.”

The proposed site for the pole sits near Birchwood Heights nursing home and St Bartholomew’s Catholic Primary School.

“This would be very bad for business for them as a blight on the landscape like this would make many people not chose to live there,” another objector wrote.

Another disgruntled resident asked: “Why don't you build these horrible, ugly things in Sevenoaks?

“After all you are Sevenoaks District Council, Swanley isn't a dumping ground for all of the stupid ideas people who've never lived here come up with over their £250 a plate banquets.

“I am more than content with 4G and for an agency that bangs on about the environment you sure like to replace grass and soil with concrete and steel.”

CK Hutchison Networks included disclaimers in their planning application about the health effects of 5G.

They explain how the mast will be compliant with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection’s guidelines, and that there is no reason to think 5G masts are any less safe than other forms of telephony.

Read more: 5G in Kent: Is protesting against phone masts a help or hindrance to progress?

However, some unconvinced residents still wrote in.

One claimed: “Radiation can impact people living around.”

Another argued: “There are known health risk with 5G mast and the council should not be part of allowing this and putting people’s health at risk.”

It’s not the first 5G furore in Kent - a protest was held outside two Maidstone schools by parents opposed to a mast there, and MP Gordon Henderson weighing in to oppose a 5G pole on Sheppey.

The rollout of 5G has sparked health fears, with some fearing the effects of exposure to radiation.

However, 5G uses non-ionising short radio waves, which the Government and World Health Organisation say are safe.