Kenilworth Town Council has objected to 'inconsistent' plans to build a 15-metre tall 5G mast on a residential street in the town centre.

CK Hutchison Networks (UK) Limited has applied to Warwick District Council for outline permission to build the pole on the pavement at the junction of Whites Row and St John's Street.

The telecommunications company said this was the best location in the town to help fill the "coverage hole" in the area.

But the plans show that several other locations across the town had been discounted because they were too near to houses.

Speaking at this week's KTC planning meeting Cllr Rob Barry highlighted the "inconsistencies within the application".

"The detailed options that they have knocked this down to, Glasshouse Lane and Roseland Road have been discounted due to the proximity to residential properties," he said. 

"I can't believe that this is less close to residential properties than somewhere along Glasshouse Lane which has gardens with the properties set back. 

"I just think this massing near the residential area is not great."

CK Hutchison Networks Ltd - which owns telecommunications and internet service provider Three - has recently had an application to build an 18-metre high pole in Stoneleigh approved on appeal.

The company said 5G coverage will be "truly transformational" and provide the foundations for a range of new applications.

The application added: "It is our opinion that the proposed design presents a better 'fit' within the local community and immediate street scape, offering a reduced visual impact upon an area of adopted highway identified, as situated out with a conservation area or other such restrictive designation."

Nearly 30 objections have already been made to the plans, with the town council voting in favour of lodging an objection.

But Cllr John Dearing said he didn't want the committee to object just because it was a 5G mast.

"I will struggle to object because I'm not sure I want to be part of a committee that just doesn't like communication masts. They look pretty diar wherever you put them," he said.

And the Green Party councillour added that going forward it would be useful to have more information of the actual coverage of the mast.

He said: "I know we haven't got the information here but it would be helpful if we knew how many masts a town like Kenilworth actually needs or is proposed to have over the next ten years. 

"Because then you could get some sense of 'well they have got to be somewhere' and then we could start thinking ourselves, or other people could start thinking, of appropriate places for them."