Council says no to Barnards Green mast (From Malvern Gazette)

Council says no to Barnards Green mast

9:47am Thursday 21st August 2008 in News By Robert Hale

CONTROVERSIAL plans to erect a new mobile phone mast in Barnards Green were thrown out by district council planners last night.

Phone company O2 applied to put up the 12.5-metre mast in the Six Ways trading estate, behind Barnards Green Road. An application for a 15-metre mast on the same mast was thrown out in 2006.

Some 30 letters of objection were received from people who live or work around the proposed mast site.

Among their reasons for concern were the height of the proposed mast and its impact on the skyline and views towards the hills. There were also considerable worries about radiation from the mast affecting people's health.

At Wednesday night's meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's southern area development control committee, members were recommended by planning officers to approve O2's application.

But after local resident Derek Cunningham spoke out against the mast, Chase ward member cllr Joe Smith proposed it be thrown out, on the grounds that its height and appearance had a detrimental effect on the area's visual amenity. The proposal was seconded by cllr Serena Croad.

Put to a vote, the motion was approved 12 votes to three, with two abstentions.