Angry parents claim they feel “betrayed” after plans to build a 5G station at a girls’ secondary school in Sydenham were seemingly waved through.
Six antennae are set to be built on the roof of Sydenham School, but parents claim there are “widespread concern” about the proposals.
Lewisham Council’s planning department received notification from Cornerstone, a telecommunications company set up by Vodafone and O2, about the proposals on October 2.
It is understood that this application was accepted by council officers after Cornerstone confirmed it intended to use permitted development rights.
These effectively allow a communications network operator to install certain types of equipment without the need for planning permission.
But parents say they feel “betrayed” by the council over the plans, claiming the local authority could block installation of the 5G station as the freeholder of the school land.
Although Sydenham School has not confirmed its position on the plans to the News Shopper, its parent newsletter from October 24 states that it “strongly objects” to the proposals.
A petition against the plans, which raises concerns about the disruption to children’s learning from building and maintaining the antennae, as well as their visual impact, has also garnered more than 700 signatures.
In a letter from one parent to Lewisham Mayor Brenda Dacres from November 11, it is claimed that the council had “not been transparent” about who owned the school land.
A screenshot included in the document appears to show communication about this between a Lewisham Council officer and Ellie Reeves MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich.
Ms Reeves is seemingly told: “The installation of any telecommunications equipment would still require consent from the freeholder of the land so technically, the school can refuse…permission to install the proposed development on top of their building.”
The parent letter to the Mayor claims that the council’s planning department has therefore been the “direct cause of incorrect information disseminated in turn to concerned members of the public by our MP”.
“This situation may well also place further stress and unwarranted pressure upon the school’s leadership team as they seek to manage the potential fallout,” it adds.
A Lewisham spokesperson has said that landlords like the council have "limited grounds" to object to telecoms operators installing equipment.
They added: "We are in discussions with the school about our position and the limits of our ability to challenge this development."
Ellie Reeves MP did not respond to a request for comment.
Cornerstone has said that the new 5G station at the school is needed to replace existing equipment on a nearby "commercial building" which has to be removed while it is redeveloped.
A spokesperson for the telecommunications company said: “Cornerstone undertook engagement with the local MP, the school, Sydenham Society, local planning authority, local councillors and several occupiers of nearby properties.
“We are committed to ensuring that the installation at Sydenham School causes minimal disruption to parents, pupils, and teachers, while also meeting the needs of nearby residents and businesses in Lewisham who rely and depend upon mobile connectivity every day.”
Sydenham School said: “We are aware of both the concerns raised by parents and local residents, as well as the broader context of digital infrastructure development in our area.
“As a school, we continue to engage with all relevant parties to ensure that any decisions made prioritise the educational environment and wellbeing of our students and staff.”
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