Mobile phone mast worries
23 August 2007
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| The site of the proposed mast – Pic: Sarah Lucy Brown |
A PHONE company's appeal against a council decision to refuse planning permission for a mast has brought a furious reaction from residents.
Mobile provider O2 applied for permission back in March 2007 to erect a 12.5m phone mast outside the Total petrol station in London Road, Sawbridgeworth.
In May, East Herts District Council refused the application on the grounds that the proposed development, including its size and height would be unduly prominent in the street scene and detrimental to the character of the conservation area.
O2 is now appealing the decision as the company disagrees with the council's grounds for refusal.
Lampposts in London Road are approximately 10m tall and the mast would tower an extra 2.5m above them if permission is granted.
Sawbridgeworth shopkeeper and avid fundraiser Don Patel said: "A mast in the middle of the town won't be a nice thing. They can make it look nice but that's not the issue. We don't know if they are linked to cancer and we are not achieving anything by raising money for cancer charities if we have this built in the area. I am not worried about how it looks, but the health side is more important."
Town councillor Angela Alder said her position on the proposal will not change now the mobile company has appealed. She said: "We were of the opinion that the application should be refused in light of local residents' concerns about it. Our refusal was based on planning and it taking up some of the pavement and the visible impact on the scene and conservation area."
Communication relations manager for O2 James Stevenson said: "O2 has 17 million customers in the UK and to keep them connected we need to maintain the credibility of the network and that's the reason for building the masts. We are not in the business of upsetting people and if we are, we will come down and meet them locally."
Nearby resident Simon Welsh is surprised the company is appealing as he said there is good mobile reception in the area.
He said: "My wife has an O2 mobile and has no problems with reception. It will be in view outside my windows which I'm not keen on and I'm not sure what the health impacts are. I don't know if they have the same impacts as electricity pylons."
The deadline for comments is September 4, after which the planning inspector will visit the site before making any decision. The council has said it is unlikely there will be a decision before December. The inspector can support the council's decision or overturn it and grant the mobile phone company planning permission.
To comment on the appeal or make a representation, the appeal number APP/J1915/A/07/2050140 should be quoted to The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.
The helpline number is 0117 372 6372, or you can visit www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk or e-mail enquiries@planning-inspectorate.gsi.gov.uk
Any comments made to the council when the planning application was received will be passed to the inspector.
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