THE firm behind a failed bid for a huge 25m phone mast in a village have unveiled a new bid for the site after shaving 5m off its height.

Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG) had its bid for a tower in Fingringhoe dismissed at appeal in 2018.

It wanted to build a 25 metre-high tower on land in Church Road.

Concerned residents feared it would be like “having the Eiffel Tower at the bottom of their gardens”.

Now the firm has submitted a prior approval application to Colchester Council for a 20m mast at the same location - it would be equivalent to the height of four double decker buses.

The application also sees the removal of three antenna from the mast.

The application said: “The existing apparatus, which provides services for EE, has been lost and so this proposal will provide replacement and enhanced coverage.

“Some coverage is currently being provided by a temporary mast installed under permitted development rights.

“These rights last for 18 months.

“Once lost, the mobile network coverage will be very poor within the area and especially in and around the towns and villages of Rowhedge, Wivenhoe, Fingringhoe and High Park Corner and mobile broadband insufficient to support the community and surrounding areas.”

The application said the mast would deliver replacement 2G and 3G and will introduce 4G to the area.

The report added: “There was some discussion in the appeal submissions and decision regarding the design proposed.

“We believe the lattice design still represents the best design.”

The applicant said 21 other sites had been considered but had all been discounted. Network provider EE’s small telecom mast was removed from Rowhedge wharf about a year ago to make way for a large housing estate at Rowhedge riverside.

The proposed tower is to be built on the public footpath linking Ballast Quay Road and Ferry Road at the Anglian Water sewage works.