PLANS to relocate a 5G phone mast outside a primary school have been lodged.

EE Ltd and Hutchison UK intend to build a 20 metre pole and related equipment directly outside Birtenshaw Hall School, Darwen Road, Bromley Cross.

In documents lodged in the past few days with Bolton Council, the telecommunications giants gave details of why they chose the site.

In a covering letter, they stated: “The location has been identified as being necessary for EE Ltd business development and meets its specific technical and operational requirements.

“The identification of this location follows pre- application discussion with your department, and we now make a formal application to you as planning authority.

“Birtenshaw Hall School is in close proximity to the site and has been notified prior to submission.”

Birtenshaw school is a special school for children and young people aged three to 19 years old with special educational needs and disability.

The plans state that the proposed site at Darwen Road, on a wide area of pavement, is a replacement site and not a new additional one.

This is due to the nearby Holland Nursery telegraph pole site being redeveloped so that equipment urgently needs replacing.

That site is set to become a Lidl supermarket, apartments and a car park after permission was granted last year.

The application give details of why other areas in Bromley Cross are unsuitable.

It states: “The majority of the search area consists mainly of dense residential area and educational buildings in Bromley Cross.

“Parts of the search area are to undergo major redevelopment which have been considered at survey and discounted.

“The survey focuses on ground-based replacements as there are no suitable rooftops in the area.

“Darwen Road is considered the best option in this report.”

A neighbour consultation is now underway and any comments should be made to Bolton Council by July 6.

The plans will then be decided on by the council.