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Community fights to block mast plan ; 30-metre phone tower 'will not blend in with trees' [Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent, England)](Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent, England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NEIGHBOURS are fighting plans to build a phone mast near their homes. Mobile phone giant Vodafone wants to put the 30-metre mast in a field off Marsh Green Road, Biddulph. But people living nearby say the mast, which would have six antennas and a microwave dish attached to it, would be an eyesore and affect the value of their properties. They also say the proposed site is a designated floodplain and is not suitable for highvoltage equipment to be placed on it. John Whatley, of Beaumont Drive, who lives less than 150 metres away from where the mast would be, is among residents who delivered letters of objection to homeowners in Portland Road, Beaumont Close and Gillow Heath. He said: "Putting a highvoltage unit in the middle of a valley that is listed by the Department of Environment as a floodplain doesn't seem like a good idea to me." The mast, to be shared with O2, would be built with the appearance of an evergreen cypress tree to blend in with the area. But Mr Whatley added: "It will be among a lot of deciduous trees on greenbelt land which means it will be standing out by itself for a large part of the year. "It will also be taller than the trees mentioned in the planning application which are meant to be hiding it." Neighbour Norman Smith, aged 85, who is also objecting to the mast, said: "My main problem is that the mast will result in the devaluation of our properties. "We've been told the planning committee at the council will take no notice of concerns about health issues on the advice of the Government, but 99 per cent of them wouldn't like to live next to one." In its application to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Vodafone says the mast would have "minimal" impact on the appearance of the area. The application states: "The proposal will offer improved services and capabilities to the local community, creating better connections that will have social and economic benefits for the area. "The proposed installation is set back from the highway within a field and adjacent to a number of tall and mature trees which measure 28 metres in height. "This means there will be minimal intrusion upon the surrounding public space. "It is considered that the proposed design will not have a detrimental impact upon the character or setting of the area as the proposed installation is designed to replicate the appearance of cypress tree, which is a feature that is not uncommon within such a setting." Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's planning committee is expected to make a decision on the plans when it meets on January 13. Are you fighting plans for a phone mast in your neighbourhood? Email us at [email protected] (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |