Opposition Grows in Fenside to 5th Attempt by Mobile Phone Company To Build A Mast
Cheylesmore Councillors Hazel Noonan & Kevin Foster have pledged to fight the latest attempt by a mobile phone company to build a large mast in the Fenside area as opposition grows amongst local residents. The plans have caused outrage amongst local residents, with hundreds signing a petition opposing any mast at this location.
The latest plans, submitted to the City Council two weeks ago, follow 4 failed attempts by the network concerned to get permission for a large mobile mast in the Fenside area. The plans seeks to get permission on a site where a similar Planning Application was rejected in May, following a campaign organised by local residents and Cheylesmore’s Conservative Councillors. The only change made by the network concerned to their plans is reducing the proposed mast height from 14.8m (50ft approx) to 13.8m (45ft approx).
Councillor Hazel Noonan, Conservative Councillor for Cheylesmore, has described this change as trivial and criticised the decision by the company concerned to ignore the views many local residents expressed on the last application.
She said: “Like most residents I am very angry that this company will not take no for an answer and have submitted a new Planning Application making only a trivial change. Reducing the height by only a few feet does not make a material difference and this mast would still have a very negative impact on the surrounding area. I, along with my colleague Cllr Kevin Foster, will be fighting this mast and backing residents concerns.”
She added: “This company appears determined to brow beat residents into accepting their plan by constantly forcing them to spend time dealing with Planning Applications. I know from speaking to the local community that such behaviour is only making them more determined to ensure this plan is defeated.”