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Petition against Vodafone erecting a mobile phone mast in Blackburn

8:00am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

A CAMPAIGN against plans for a mobile phone mast at a Blackburn Cricket club is gathering momentum after dozens of residents joined the fight.

More than 70 people have written letters of objection in relation to Vodafone’s plans for the 15-metre mast at the old tennis courts at Cherry Tree Cricket Club.

It comes after Cherry Tree Pre-School, which operates at the adjacent Woodlands United Reform Church, launched a petition, which has been signed by several parents.

Campaigners have concerns over the health risks related to mobile phone masts as well as its effect on the landscape.

However there is no evidence to suggest mobile phone masts pose any health risks, and planning officers are assessing whether or not planning permission is required.

Retired teachers Meg and Marty Casey, of Cherry Tree Terrace, have lodged one of more than 70 letters of objection.

Meg, 63, said: “It would be directly behind the pretty 125-year-old Woodlands United Reform Church in Preston Old Road and only yards from a thriving pre-school group.

“The mast, which would be surrounded by 7ft-high security fencing, would be clearly visible from the road and surrounding houses.

“It will not be obscured by trees, as the phone company claim. This type of structure is inappropriate in the middle of a residential area.”

The monopole would accommodate six 3G antennas on a shared headframe, giving the structure an overall height of 18.2 metres.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has 56 days from when the application was received to make a decision on whether or not planning permission is required.

Protestors’ views will be taken into consideration by the officers dealing with the application.

If no decision has been made after 56 days, Vodafone will be free to install the mast.

Marty, 65, said he would have preferred it if the application had been sent to the borough’s planning and highways committee.

He said: “We feel like small fish who haven’t been given an opportunity to voice our concerns.

“There is a lad who has just moved in next door and he said if he had known about the plans he wouldn’t have bought the house.”

No-one from the cricket club was available for comment.

Comments(18)

Noiticer says...
8:28am Thu 23 Feb 12

This is all about the club wishing to raise extra income. The sad thing is that it is being erected on 'old tennis courts' which begs the question, 'Wht are the tennis courts not being used?' If the local community got more involved in the club and used its facilities then the need for the mast would disappear and the tennis courts would be in demand as tennis courts not as a location for a phone mast.

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Dusty Snatchmonger says...
8:54am Thu 23 Feb 12

Everytime I stand near a phone mast, my head crackles

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A Darener says...
10:37am Thu 23 Feb 12

I am assuming that all the objecting residents and their family's do NOT use mobile phones!

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Discrunner says...
11:05am Thu 23 Feb 12

This is a club that needs extra revenue, they should make an attempt to involve the local community and not alienate themselves from it by erecting a mast such as this. the tennis courts are not being used because they are not fit for purpose are they? By all means heap blame on the locals for not using the facilities available but ask yourselves the question why? Feniscowles club has turned itself around by involving the community and being available for the community. An instance a while ago...Cherry Tree Club almost filled to capacity on a Sunday afternoon for a Christening party when at the stroke of 3pm the bar closes and all must drink up and leave, The Bee Hive and The Station must make a killing when this happens. Have a close look at the running of the place and the opportunity to make more money is there for the taking without the need for Vodaphone cash. Get your house in order and you'll make more money!

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mothersreason says...
11:50am Thu 23 Feb 12

small clubs like Cherry Tree will no way compete against the station pub, I have a friend whos on the social committee, who tries hard to help the community and tries hard to get families in, they have coaches who coach for free every session in cricket season to help the local kids, The social have orgainised easter egg hunts Christmas Parties, quizz nights, halloween parties, they are holding a mini olympic day in July, and these are all subsidised with the club, to give the local families something to do. However at the end of the day times are really hard for families, and people are not coming in because they cant afford. its a case of survival, and I would have mixed feelings about the phone mast if it was close to me, but what do we want to see, another boarded up derelict building within the community, and again, no safe place for our children to go, its a catch 22 situation

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Your ferret stinks says...
1:05pm Thu 23 Feb 12

It's not a catch 22 situation at all, it is mearly accepting that times are a changing and there is no good reason been put forwards to date to state that a mast is detremental to anyones health (unless the little tykes are going to climb up it) or any other for that matter.
As A darener says do all the objectors NOT use mobile phones...course they do so why get all worked up about nothing, i guess it's back to that human nature thing that we don't like change!

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Discrunner says...
1:05pm Thu 23 Feb 12

I never said it had to compete with The Station but when you have a room full of people willing to part with more of their hard earned what on earth is the point of closing the bar so they have to go elsewhere?

And when were the "free" coaching sessions? from memory they were by no means free and a membership was compulsory even though very often the facilities were not even open for parents until the sessions had almost finished!!

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Cuttingsky says...
1:24pm Thu 23 Feb 12

I don`t know what all the fuss is about personally.

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Your ferret stinks says...
1:37pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Cuttingsky wrote:
I don`t know what all the fuss is about personally.
I don't think the people who are complaining do either to be fair so i say 'give em a windmill as well'

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mothersreason says...
5:44pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Discrunner I mean people giving their own time up for free to coach the local community
I think you are getting off the point of the article the phone mast I take it your a disgruntled resident

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Cuttingsky says...
6:53pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Your ferret stinks says...
1:37pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Cuttingsky wrote:
I don`t know what all the fuss is about personally.
I don't think the people who are complaining do either to be fair so i say 'give em a windmill as well'



LOL only one, they could fill the entire field with the?

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Cuttingsky says...
6:54pm Thu 23 Feb 12

them not the, typo.

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Cricket widow says...
8:15pm Thu 23 Feb 12

Discrunner - we know u disagree with the mast but I would like 2 make some points u have raised about the club - the club is and has always been avail 4 the community + plenty of people use it - we have events 2 encourage local families 2 attend these events. Room hire - this is booke 4 a length of time and then club would close - if u wanted it 4 longer it should have been booked 4 a longer period. Coaches offer their time FOC and subs not expensive - works out just over £1 per session. I take it u do not support this local club or have not come up with your child on a thursday night - bar is open from start of coaching - at least 50 kids turn up which keeps the kids off consoles and helps them keep fit and not a chance will any of these be a statistic for obesity. If u r iunterested in putting your ideas about getting this extra revenue - please come up 2 club as our door is always open 2 everyone. About the mast we wil have 2 wait and see what happens.

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hairy mary says...
10:04pm Thu 23 Feb 12

dont stick your tongue on the mast as it makes your eyes go funny

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Discrunner says...
10:30pm Thu 23 Feb 12

It has gone off topic a little but my point was that if the club had provided attractive amenities and services for the local community the support would have been there. This would have provided the club with much needed funds and it wouldn't have needed to sell out to Vodaphone at a knockdown price. Look after the locals and they will look after you, remember this Cherry Tree Cricket Club. It may come back to haunt you!

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mothersreason says...
9:22am Fri 24 Feb 12

Oh dear discrunner, I think there is something personal going on here, I think this club are trying to look after the locals as i quoted look what social events they are holding throughout the year, its a safe place for famlies to go, and again, i understand your points on the phone mast, but i would not want another local business to close down, lets face it there is not much left in Blackburn, where i would feel content to let my children go to.

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Cricket widow says...
6:22pm Fri 24 Feb 12

I agree with mothersreason you have got personal problems with the club, but discrunner you were the person to get off the topic when you started your comments - You have given negative comments on all your comments about the club, which is a well run members club and has done well to survive with the economic climate at the moment. Cherry tree will never have the same membership as Feniscowles club due to the different sports they have - Tennis, cricket, bowls and football - they employ a full time steward ours is part time. You said Feni had turned it around and involve the community (I attend the club and feel its the same as always) please advise what they have done and then we maybe able to mirror this. How does the club not offer attractive ammenities: Cricket field, changing rooms, car park, showers, toilets and bar (which can hold upto 100 people in the main room). What other attractive ammenities can the club offer? The club has been there for over 100 yrs and I would think most of the locals have either come into the club or decided not to attend. Regarding the knockdown price - how do you know its a knockdown price - the going rate a believe. Once again i invite you to come down to the club and speak to the members and let them have your ideas. The club have a lot of volunteers that help run the club for free and I dont think you realise what happens in a local club like ours.

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Cornswoggle says...
11:38pm Mon 19 Mar 12

Go and look at the mast at Darwen CC. If you can find it! All sports clubs need as much funding as they can muster. This money can be put into junior cricket (which by the way is one of the best run in the county at CT), spent on facilities to provide a nice environment for people to enjoy cricket and socialising. Just remember this is a non profit organisation they put all money back into the club. I'm sure they will get planning permission as there really is no sensible arguement against it other than the NIBY argument. Go to go my phone is ringing..

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