Plans for a proposed 5G tower in a residential area have sparked a backlash with over 27 objections submitted.

Network provider Three said there is “an acute need” for the pole on the corner of High Road and Hare Crescent, Watford, but some residents have labelled it a “monstrosity”.

Between April 16 and April 24, the objection comments have been uploaded to the Watford Borough Council planning portal calling the proposal “awful”, “unacceptable”, and “detrimental”.

If approved, the mast would stand 15m high on an area of grass between the road and the pavement.

One local who objected told the Watford Observer: “This will destroy a wonderful road in Leavesden and greatly devalue the price of the property within this area.”

They claimed many have questioned why it could not be constructed in a less built-up area.

“These should not be installed near residential areas,” he added. “We are currently doing a petition of all the local residents.”

Three says that the design is “the smallest possible in order to minimise the impact of the mast”.

The company had apparently considered six other locations but believes it has chosen the most suitable one to meet demand.

“The planning authority will decide whether we have,” a spokesperson added.

After engagement with the council, it looked at an alternative location that was suggested but found that it “did not work from a network coverage point of view”.

The Three spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Woodside in Watford. We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this site will be critical to making that happen.

“Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.

"We carry out extensive searches and evaluate a wide range of options before submitting any planning applications.”

Several of the objections also mentioned theories about a danger to people’s health from 5G technology.

The World Health Organisation has to date found no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies “after much research”.