Plans to build a 5G mast next to a well-loved tree in Kendal are facing a large amount of public opposition.
Cornerstone, set up by O2 and Vodafone, has lodged an application with Westmorland & Furness Council to install the mast on land west of Burneside Road on the highest area of The Todds to improve mobile connectivity in the area.
The 20m mast would be placed next to Kendal’s lone tree – an unofficial but cherished landmark that residents liken to the town’s version of Sycamore Gap.
Dozens of people have spoken out against the mast being built after a local resident set up a campaign – kendallonetree.org – against the plans, which he said would destroy the local landmark.
The resident, who has asked not to be named, added: “It’s just heart-breaking. When you look at what happened to Sycamore Gap, it destroyed a well known view and this is the same, this is our Sycamore Gap.
“It’s a striking lone tree that stands at the top of these hills in a place called The Todds, which means death in German and it’s a really old bit of land so there’s a chance it has quite a bit of history and it shouldn’t be sacrificed for a mast.
“It’s a prime Cumbrian view and it needs to be treasured and protected into the future.”
Kendal’s lone tree sits on the border between Burneside and Kendal.
Burneside Parish Council was asked for its views on the proposals. It said it had previously opposed any developments in the area, known as Green Gap. It asked Cornerstone why this location had been chosen.
Cornerstone said: “The proposed location was selected due to the site’s elevation, which provides the maximum level of mobile coverage and capacity to the area.
“Additionally, during the site survey, it was evident that there is a housing development to the south of the proposed cell location. The current coverage is already struggling in this area, and with an increase in the number of dwellings, the coverage will be further stretched.
“Therefore, the need for a mast in this location to boost coverage will become more apparent once the housing development is completed.”
The resident added: “So many people have memories and even different names for the tree, one family called it Billy’s tree because they’d always see it when they went to visit their uncle Billy.
“People have known it since their childhoods, so it’s steeped in history. A 5G tower next to it would be such an eyesore, the area is absolutely beautiful, it’s only about a mile outside of the Lake District.
“We’re not saying no to a mast in general, we’re just saying it needs to be put somewhere else in a sympathetic way so it doesn’t ruin that view. We’ve had a lot of housing development here, so for me I think we should be protecting the land we have.”
The proposed mast would be five metres taller than the tree and would also feature steel fence and supporting cables.
Over 50 letters objecting to the plans have now been submitted to the council. Those objecting have highlighted the tree as well-loved by generations of local people and photographers and have expressed strong opposition to its proposed location.
One local resident also claimed that several 16th and 19th century artefacts have also been found in the area.
The resident running the Kendal lone tree campaign said the tree has been photographed in a similar way to Sycamore Gap over the years, including during heavy snow, mist, during super moons, starlight and under the Northern Lights.
He added: “In London, certain locations have a protected view. This should be a protected view.
“Everyone on social media is saying this is terrible and showing their photos of it over the years, so it’s obvious how special it is.
“When I come back home from work, my wife picks me up from train and the tree is one of the first things I see and I know I’m home, and that’s what it means to people.”
Plans for the mast have been proposed by Cornerstone as part of its network improvement programme.
The firm said the proposed design of the 5G tower has been chosen to minimise visual impact on the surrounding area while providing the necessary level of coverage and capacity.
It added that without the new mast, the existing coverage in the area would struggle to meet customer demand and that customers would not be able to use their smartphones and other handheld devices as intended as it could result in issues like buffering and dropped calls.
A public consultation about the plans runs until Thursday December 19.
