Plan for larger Walsall phone mast is turned down
A telecoms giant's bid to replace a controversial phone mast that sparked a High Court battle with an even larger model has been thrown out.
Walsall Council had launched legal action after claiming Vodafone had put up the mast in Pheasey in July 2011 despite the authority throwing out the proposals – but a judge ruled there should be no judicial review.
Vodafone then drew up new plans to increase the height of the 48ft phone mast, at the junction of Waverley Avenue and Beacon Road, by 20cm to improve services for customers.
But Walsall Council's planning committee voted unanimously to throw out the proposals at a meeting last night, with council leader Mike Bird directing officers to write to Vodafone to ask again if the firm will pull the current mast down.
It came after planning officers warned the committee that despite the minor size increase, the new mast would be 'considerably more bulky and prominent' and new equipment cabinets would be 'intrusive'.
Speaking against the plans last night, Walsall's regeneration chief Councillor Adrian Andrew said: "Our residents are extremely annoyed in how this mast ended up here.
"The new mast will be bigger. The applicant is rubbing salt in the wounds of our local residents."
Pheasey Park Farm Councillor Chris Towe, also speaking against the plans, added: "We did offer them alternative sites at the time and they refused."
Protestors cited health concerns, claiming it is unnecessary and that there are many more preferable sites nearby. Planning agent Chris Taylor, from Mono Consultants, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the new mast would have facilitated 4G services.
But Councillor Bird told the meeting: "It is a new application. It is a different mast. It's thicker, it's taller. We didn't want the first one and we don't want the second one."
The council had previously sought to take enforcement action against the mast, with more than 350 people signing a petition in support of the authority.
The council said the decision to refuse planning permission for the mast was posted on its website and sent to bosses at Vodafone 11 days before the 56-day deadline for a planning decision. This was denied by the phone operator, which said it had not received the notice of refusal and went ahead under 'permitted development'.
A planning inspector did not permit the council to remove the mast and High Court action also failed.