Residents say they feel betrayed by a council which has installed a 5G mast in their seafront Regency street.

People living in Worthing’s Heene Terrace say the unsightly mast popped up by the side of their road in June and has ruined the heritage of their homes and gardens overlooking the beach.

They are trying to have the mast removed, calling on West Sussex County Council to stop meddling with the historic feel of their Grade II Listed road.

Casey Parsons, who moved to Heene Terrace from London around a year ago, said: "They are ticking a box on a map and have no appreciation for the area.

"I feel a little bit betrayed. It has been placed there by someone who does not have any appreciation for the area.

"We are fully supportive of better communication for Worthing not at the expense of residents.

"Everyone is really concerned because no one thinks it should be there.

"It's only going to get worse."

Casey, 51, said the 5G mast was erected just centimetres outside of a protected garden area.

An impression of the finished 5G mast with cells addedAn impression of the finished 5G mast with cells added (Image: Casey Parsons)

The 8m tall mast, residents claim, goes against a long-standing agreement to protect Heene Terrace and its gardens from over-development.

The mast is within the remit of West Sussex County Council, which looks after the highways in Worthing and the rest of the county.

Residents also say that they have been let down by Worthing Borough Council.

Casey launched a petition to call on the councils to have the mast relocated which has so far been signed by over 100 people.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: “In agreement with the local planning authority, Worthing Borough Council, we have adhered to our local authority Permitted Development rights to position the column in question.

“The street column is a purpose-built pole that is only connected to power and fibre and has the original highways sign attached. It will host two small cells to facilitate 4G and 5G connectivity, but is not itself a transmitter, therefore it is not a mast. The column has been positioned on the public highway and is not impacted by the referred to conveyance regarding Heene Terrace.

“We appreciate that some people have concerns about the visual impact on a number of Worthing’s streets, in particular focussing on the Regency architecture of the area.

“In choosing the positions for these new street columns, we have taken into account the often busy urban landscape by replacing existing street infrastructure instead of installing additional items.”

A spokesman for Worthing Borough Council said: “WSCC has positioned the column using its permitted development rights. We do not have concerns that it goes against either the local plan or our conservation strategies.

“The covenant that is referred to specifically relates to Heene Terrace garden. The development is not on this land but on the public highway.”