Dismay at phone mast defeat
An MP has spoken of his disappointment after a mobile phone company won a fight to put up a mast yards from a Black Country primary school, despite objections from more than 200 people. An MP has spoken of his disappointment after a mobile phone company won a fight to put up a mast yards from a Black Country primary school, despite objections from more than 200 people. But Ian Pearson said that Wordsley residents must now learn to live with the mast. Hutchison 3G was refused planning permission to put up a mast 250 metres from Belle Vue Primary School in Lawnswood Road, Wordsley, in March. But the firm appealed against the decision. The planning inspectorate in Bristol has now overturned the ruling. Protesters are disappointed at the news the 41ft-high mast will go up. The move comes despite a wave of objections from residents and parents, pupils and staff at Belle Vue Primary. Dudley South MP Ian Pearson, now a government minister for science, backed the protesters and wrote a letter objecting to the planning application. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
But Ian Pearson said that Wordsley residents must now learn to live with the mast. Hutchison 3G was refused planning permission to put up a mast 250 metres from Belle Vue Primary School in Lawnswood Road, Wordsley, in March. But the firm appealed against the decision.
The planning inspectorate in Bristol has now overturned the ruling.
Protesters are disappointed at the news the 41ft-high mast will go up. The move comes despite a wave of objections from residents and parents, pupils and staff at Belle Vue Primary.
Dudley South MP Ian Pearson, now a government minister for science, backed the protesters and wrote a letter objecting to the planning application.
But the planning inspector ruled the mast would not be visually intrusive and would not have a harmful impact on the quality of life of nearby residents. He also said health fears associated with mobile phone masts were not sufficient to justify dismissing the appeal.
Mr Pearson said: "My constituents had very understandable fears about the proposal to put this mast so near to their houses in Lawnswood Road, so they were initially pleased when the council turned down the application.
"However, despite the wishes of residents and the decision of local councillors, the planning inspector has ruled in favour of Hutchison and we must live with that.
"Local people were concerned the mast would be an eyesore and attract vandals as well as being a potential health hazard."
Jean Morris, of Lawnswood Avenue, said: "We are just devastated.
"A lot of the parents with children at the school won't know this decision has been made, and they will be gutted.
"There were about 200 people who wrote individual letters to the planning inspectorate in Bristol."
Dudley Council planners, originally refusing the application, said the installation of the mast in Lawnswood Road would result in "additional street clutter" and create a "visually prominent and incongruous feature".
