Kevin Welcomes Decision By Council Officers to Reject Planning Application For A Large New Mobile Mast on Leaf Lane
Cheylesmore Ward Councillor Kevin Foster has today (Thursday 2nd June 2011) welcomed the decision by council officers to refuse planning permission for a 14.8m (50ft approx) new mobile phone mast close to the junction of Gregory Hood Road and Leaf Lane.
The plans, which were submitted to the City Council in April, caused outrage amongst local residents, with hundreds signing a petition organised by Councillor Foster opposing the mast. This latest attempt to build a new mobile mast follows the failure of 3 previous Planning Applications by the network concerned to get permission for a similar structure close to the Festival Pub in Leaf Lane.
The e-mail sent to Councillor Foster together with the report considered by planning officers, confirm that the reasons for refusal of the application were based on the impact that the mast proposed would have on the Green Belt and the visual amenity of the area if the plans were allowed to go ahead.
Cllr Foster said: “I am delighted that the views of so many residents have been listened to by council officers. The proposed mast would have been a blot on the landscape and had an unacceptable impact on the surrounding area. In addition many residents were rightly concerned at having such equipment built so close to their homes. I would like to thank all those who supported the campaign, in particular the owners of Fenside News and The Festival Public House, without their support this mast might have sneaked through.”
He added: “I hope the mobile company concerned will finally listen to the views of so many residents who do not want another mast in their area and look at more suitable locations for such a structure. After four attempts that have caused distress to, and wasted the time of, local residents it is time they took no for an answer.”