Fury in beautiful UK seaside town at plans to 'ruin best view in the country'

Long-time residents have taken a stand against plans to install a huge 75-foot-high (22.8 metres) 5G phone mast nearby.

The huge "eyesore" would be built at Quay West Holiday Park in New Quay, Ceredigion in Wales. These plans have set off a year of anger and protests among local residents since the planning application was first submitted.

While local backlash last year paid off and forced the planners to withdraw their original plans, fresh plans have now been submitted to build the mast just 500ft away from the previous site. Many locals are concerned that the Vodafone mast, which would be built at the foot of their gardens, could affect house prices in an area of natural outstanding beauty.

Park owners Haven Holidays defended the plans, claiming that the mast would enhance mobile coverage and internet connectivity for visitors and residents during busy summer months.

A supporting letter from Haven Quay West General Manager Cherry Barnett said that the mast would ensure tourists return to the area year after year. The holiday park owners welcome around 29,000 tourists every year to the seaside spot.

It said: "This infrastructure is essential for ensuring that guests and owners continue to choose New Quay as their preferred destination thereby sustaining and boosting the local economy."

Fed-up residents have circulated a petition objecting to the scheme, while formal objections have been sent to the Ceredigion County Council, which will consider the latest proposal later this year.

Local residents Glennis and Leech, who launched the petition, said: “Twelve months on and Quay West makes the same application but this time the mast would be at the side of a home again; at what point did Quay West think that local residents would be happy to have such an eyesore in their view 24/7, 365 days a year?"

The couple went on to warn that the response will be even stronger than the backlash last year.

They challenged the company to build the mast "in the middle of the park where the holidaymakers will have a good view of the outrageous obnoxious mast that Quay West want to subject the local residence to permanently not just holiday time”.

Kim Davies, who objected to the previous scheme, said: "It's basically been moved a little further up the road. The proposal yet again has given no thought whatsoever to the residents that have to look at this monstrosity on a daily basis, I am concerned also that this application will hugely devalue our properties.

"Quay West have vast grounds where this could be sited anywhere, but it seems to me that this monstrosity might put holidaymakers off, having to look at it, well, exactly the same goes for residents that live in New Quay full time."

The proposals on the council website have also garnered furious complaints from locals.

Thomas Bowen said: "This mast is too high and far too close to houses. It will be a blot on the local landscape and should be rejected."

Patricia Cox added: "We STRONGLY OBJECT to the proposed erection of a 5G mast so close to homes and gardens. New Quay is an area of natural outstanding beauty. Many people choose to either live here permanently or come back time and again on holiday because the views are second to none and would be completely spoilt by the siting of such a large ugly construction."

Many complaints also cited concerns about the 5G mast's impact on local wildlife in the area, particularly bats and sea birds.

Dr Robert Bowen, a business lecturer from Cardiff University Business School, has warned locals that not having up-to-date infrastructure in rural areas could mean those places are at an economic disadvantage in the long term.

He told the BBC: "A number of people go on holiday and expect to see the same services that they have in those places as they would do at home. So, if they have an experience where they're frustrated by a lack of connectivity they might not return. So it certainly can ensure that it can maintain tourism levels that exist within the area."