Phone mast plans thrown out

4:34pm Wednesday 25th April 2007

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PLANS to install two mobile phone masts have been thrown-out by planners.

Service provider, T-Mobile, applied to Bolton Council to erect a 12.3 metre-high mast on land in Market Street, Little Lever. The firm also sought permission to install a 12 metre mast on a grass verge opposite McDonalds, in Chorley Old Road, Bolton.

But Bolton Council's planning and highways committee refused the proposals last week. Councillors said the first set of plans were out-of-keeping with the area.

Cllr Mary Woodward said: "The main issue is where this thing is going, in a very busy area, behind a bus shelter. There are at least three other telephone masts in Little Lever. The mast is designed to look like a lamp post but then again how many lamp posts do we need?"

Opposing the plans, one resident said: "This is a major footfall in Little Lever. It's the wrong place."

Cllr Roger Hayes suggested that T-Mobile look into scrapping the Chorley Old Road plans and sharing a 45 ft mast that is to be installed by O2, at the junction of Moss Bank Way and Captain's Clough Road, in Smithills.

Cllr Barbara Ronson said: "I'm worried about the visual amenity on that grass verge. It would be quite striking as it comes into view."

Defending the plans, Martin Dale, on behalf of T-Mobile, had told the committee: "This is visually acceptable within the street-scene. We are creating a replica telegraph pole. Refusal cannot be justified on the basis of concerns about health."