A broadband mast near Glastonbury will be allowed to remain in place after retrospective planning approval was given by Mendip District Council.

The application for the installation of a 10-metre wooden telegraph telecommunications pole supporting four dishes, three antenna, an equipment cabinet and ancillary development at Norwood Park Farm, Wick Lane, near Glastonbury, was submitted by Pat McPhilimey for Voneus Ltd.

The site is located on the land to the rear of the Norwood Park Farm and its buildings, and the mast was put up to improve broadband links and speeds in the area.

This retrospective application was to get permission for the mast, and Glastonbury Town Council were against it, saying it was out of keeping with a Special Landscape Feature Area, it would have an impact on natural environment and wildlife including a negative impact of wifi, and there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate what the long-term effects of this type of technology will have on the planet.

Ten objections were also received, citing concern about non-ionising electromagnetic radiation contaminating the land; that it was out of keeping; impacts on health, wildlife and the planet; and that the development proposed was not needed in the area.

The technology used by Voneus is called Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and it works through point-to-point microwave wireless technology.

This means that the broadband signal is beamed between two points through low-level radio frequencies. The single beam is very narrow, not unlike a laser beam.

In their report, the planning officer said: "It is understood that that the signal via FWA uses different technology to the way in which a mobile receives its internet signal from masts.

"It operates at exactly the same frequency as the wifi router in homes, with the only difference being that a router emits a signal in all directions, while the point-to-point signal transmissions between Voneus antennas occur in just one fine beam.

"There is little to no leakage outside of the beam between antennas, meaning that it is incredibly safe to both human life and the surrounding nature, and the use of non-ionising radio waves offers no threat to local flora and fauna."

In approving the mast, the council report says: "It is considered that it will sit comfortably within the context of the existing farm yard and will provide necessary communications infrastructure.

"There is no evidence to suggest that the proposal will result in harm to human health and it will not impact on the amenity of nearby residents."

One planning application in the Glastonbury area has been submitted to Mendip District Council this week:

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 4 (soft landscaping scheme), on planning consent 2019/1814/FUL has been made at Glastonbury Surgery, Feversham Lane, Glastonbury.

Planning applications in the Glastonbury area that have been decided this week by Mendip District Council include:

Alterations to existing kitchen and WC over; replacement of existing door with window and replacement of existing windows, removal of external plumbing and localised repointing of stone work; replace concrete floor slab with new breathable slab and under-floor heating at Lottisham Manor, Lottisham Lane, Lottisham, by Helenka Maciej-Hill have been approved.

The replacement of a Velux window with a conservation rooflight to the front (west) slope and the introduction of an additional rooflight to the rear (east) slope at 3 Chilkwell Street, Glastonbury, by Dr Paul Banks has been approved.

Approval of details reserved by condition 6 (Surface Water Drainage Strategy) on planning consent 2017/3109/FUL at New Close Farm, Dyehouse Lane, Glastonbury, by Mr and Mrs Hughes has been given.