A PLAN to build a bigger mobile phone mast in Warndon has been submitted to the council.

The new 20 metre telephone mast would replace the existing mast near The Fairway and Otley Close off Tolladine Road on the edge of the old Tolladine Golf Course.

The current mast is 15 metres high and is disguised as a tree but plans show the new taller mast would not be covered.

The plan includes a new phone tower, 12 antennae and four dishes as well as eight new cabinets on the ground.

Councillor Andy Roberts, who represents Warndon Parish South, said: “The new mast is quite different to the old one.

"I have been in touch with the people who are doing it and I am trying to convince them to disguise it as best they can but to be honest I’m not getting much joy but I am going to persevere with that.

“In an ideal world it would be invisible but I’m getting the feeling that it is something we are just going to have live with it.

“Of course we have to balance it with the fact that many locals want better phone signal and this will address that.”

Chris Dobbs, landscape officer at Worcester City Council, said: “The current installation of a tree disguised tower is such for a reason. The site is extremely prominent even from outside the city.

"Any new mast should be similarly a tree type disguise pole, especially if five metres taller and carrying more intrusive equipment.”

The new mast would be built by Mobile Broadband Network Limited (MBNL) – a joint signal and network-sharing partnership between mobile phone companies EE and Three.

Consultation on the plan ends on April 8 and comments can be made via the planning section of the city council’s website. The application number is 19/00102/FUL.