Plans have been submitted to Mendip District Council for a mast to be put up in Pilton to help provide superfast broadband.

A planning application has been submitted for prior approval of a telecommunications development for the building of one 11m telegraph pole required to support a 407mm x 315mm dish, a 650mm x 386mm dish, and two 700mm x 135mm x 73mm antenna with a 550mm x 320mm x 420mm equipment cabinet attached to the telegraph pole, and all associated ancillary development on land at Bowermead Lane, Whitstone Hill, Pilton, by Adam Goodman on behalf of broadband provider Voneus.

The site is located on the land to the north west of Bowermead House on the farm grounds, close to Pilton.

The proposed location of the installation is adjacent to an existing garage which lies in the north westerly corner of the Bowermead grounds.

Voneus specialises in providing high-speed internet to remote rural locations by utilising masts, dishes and antenna to provide coverage to much-needed areas.

During the current pandemic, the company says there has been an unprecedented increase in the demand for good quality, rural broadband and that this area offers very poor quality existing broadband to the rural communities.

Voneus has been working to try and find solutions in the area by installing on existing buildings, and has an urgent requirement to provide a link structure that shall link sites and provide them with superfast broadband.

In order to provide this service, Voneus has a requirement to install a 11m mast and has identified a location at the north west of Bowermead that would link the network and provide the service.

The new mast will enable Voneus to deliver broadband speeds of between 24Mbps and 50Mbps to premises within a 10km area.

The application says: "These enhanced speeds will make it easier for residents to work from home, learn from home, as well as access other online services - everything from banking to gaming.

"The speeds are more than enough for all family members to be online at the same time. Local businesses and organisations are also set to benefit.

"Aside from the many farms and farm businesses in this rural community, there are many schools, village halls and local shops.

"Voneus is also committed to providing free services to at least one public building in every community that it serves. The company is currently working with local residents to identify the most appropriate candidate.

"Crucially, the mast at Bowermead will enable Voneus to roll out these services in the shortest possible timeframe, with the final phase of the network scheduled to go live at the start of 2021."