Up in arms over mast plans (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Up in arms over mast plans

10:00am Sunday 5th October 2008

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PLANS to erect a mobile phone mast near residential homes will be a detriment to Kidderminster’s street scene, it has been claimed.

Labour Worcestershire county councillor, Nigel Knowles, believes Vodafone’s “hostile” proposal for a 12-metre high mast at the Highway Verge, next to Wolverley Road, is in an inappropriate location.

He is urging residents to object to the plans, as he says it will be placed at a “very busy” road junction and is concerned for people’s health.

“It’s a hostile application,” Mr Knowles said. “There are a lot of people who live in that vicinity. The street scene will be affected.

“The best place for these transmission antennas is away from people.”

Mr Knowles explained Vodafone was also planning to place a two-metre high receiving facility on top of the mast, which would include a Vodafone cabinet and pillar.

He added: “All of these things will make the site look too industrial for a residential area.”

He explained residents and workers at Barnabee’s Nursery and the Three Crowns and Sugar Loaf Pub were furious about the pole being in the middle of the community.

“I’m asking Vodafone to withdraw their application and move to another site,” he said.

A Vodafone spokesman said the radio base station was required to improve the 3G coverage to its customers in the surrounding area.

He added: “The location on Wolverley Road was chosen after consideration of 11 other sites, as it provides a backdrop of street furniture against which the proposed 12-metre pole and antennas will not be visually intrusive.

“As part of our pre-application consultation we have written to the Local Planning Authority and local ward councillors and they have agreed to co-ordinate consultation with local residents. Further to this, we have erected a site notice, which also requests feedback on the proposal.

“We will not submit the planning application until this consultation has been completed.

“We recognise that some communities are concerned regarding the deployment of radio base stations.

“All of our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.”

Mr Knowles is urging people to object to the proposal by writing to Gary Lyon, Patrick Farfan Ltd, Theatre Building, Carrington Park, Manchester, M31 4DD.

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