A town council has given its backing to proposed WIFI masts on the seafront, although the final decision is yet to be made. Selsey Town Council was consulted on the application for three 6m high masts on Selsey seafront and said it found “no planning grounds for rejection”. The application was submitted on behalf of electrical company North , which said it was part of a scheme to support businesses and "improve the experience of visitors in outdoor settings".
KS Town Planning, on behalf of North, said: "The Connected Spaces Wi-Fi Pilot aims to focus on rural/semi-rural outdoor settings like parks, market town centres and seafronts, to deliver wi-fi in selected locations across the county where mobile connectivity is poor or requires improvement. The three masts could be built on the seafront green adjacent to the lifeboat station (Image: Claire Byrne) “The aim is to support businesses to survive, grow and thrive, encouraging innovation and leading to an improved customer experience for visitors, which in turn could increase footfall within the chosen areas, thus boosting the local economy.” Residents in Selsey have dubbed the application “ridiculous” and say it is not necessary for the area.
Claire Byrne, 44, said: “I can see the green from my house, I see people walking their dogs there, playing with their kids all the time. “I’m also worried about the development as we have a lot of bats and wildlife. They’re going to dig up the green, we also don’t ha.