Rare victory over mobile phone mast

RESIDENTS are celebrating after a rare victory was achieved over a mobile phone company seeking consent for a 15m high telecommunications mast and equipment cabinet.
Two telecom companies would have shared the mast in Longwood Road, Appleton but a planning inspector has ruled that despite this, and despite the importance of securing telecom coverage, the mast would damage the street scene and the amenity of the occupants of a nearby house
Warrington Borough Council originally refused permission for the mast against the advice of their officers.
The applicants appealed – but the inspector who dealt with the appeal decided the mast, despite having a timber effect, would be noticeably higher and thicker than street light columns and would be unduly conspicuous in the street scene – particularly when there were no leaves on the nearby trees.
|It would be in direct line of sight with a sitting room and patio at a house in Harrow Close, dominating their outlook.
Andy Farrall, Warrington’s director of environment and regeneration, said refusals based on visual harm were not usually supported by inspectors. It was notable that the harm to one particular house, rather than a larger number of dwellings, was highlighted as a reason for dismissing the appeal.
But householders living near Admirals Road, Oakwood, have lost a fight to block a 15m high phone mast being erected near their homes.
The inspector who dealt with this appeal, said the mast would be mainly seen above or through trees and would not dominate visually, even when the trees were bare.
It was would be harmfully uncharacteristic or unduly prominent in a suburban setting with bus shelters, street lamps and other street furniture.
Mr Farrall said the absence of a direct or clear view of the mast from any nearby dwellings or their gardens seemed to have convinced the inspector that serious visual harm would not be caused.
However, Mr Farrall added: “Visual impact on the wider streetscene is considered to be very similar to the Longwood Road, Appleton, case.”