Campaigners dismayed by mast appeal blow


18 December 2007 15:00

Families living on the outskirts of Norwich fear they will now get a phone mast in the centre of their village after a decision to refuse planning permission was overturned on appeal.

More than 80 people had objected to plans for the 11.7metre T-Mobile mast on land opposite the Crown pub in Norwich Road, New Costessey, after application was submitted.

Campaigners were delighted when the plans were rejected by South Norfolk Council's planning committee in February despite officers' recommendations to approve.

But delight has turned to dismay for families who live in the area following news the refusal was overturned on appeal.

Costessey Parish Council had wanted to use a strip of grass in Norwich Road as an attractive spot to house a village centre sign complete with flowerbeds, but those plans are today in jeopardy.

While the appeal was ongoing the firm set its sights on an alternative location for the mast, in woods off Taverham Lane, Costessey.

Now the company has said that although it has permission for a mast in Norwich Road, it has put a decision on hold and will choose which location they want to proceed with in the coming months.

Councillors have pledged to lobby the telecommunications company and urge it to choose the site off Taverham Lane, which they feel will be publically more acceptable.

John Denby, who represents New Costessey on South Norfolk Council, said he was saddened and disappointed at the result of the appeal, but hoped T-Mobile would listen to the wishes of the community.

He said: “We want to put a village centre focal point in that spot, but now we could end up with a whacking great phone mast.

“We are going to get a mast whatever happens and I think the site down by the river would be more publicly far acceptable than the proposal at the Co-op. There are very few houses there within any reasonable distance and it would be out of sight in woods.”

T-Mobile has submitted a pre-plan idea to the parish council for a mast off Taverham Lane and now it will have to decide whether to proceed with this or continue with the mast in Norwich Road.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: “It is on hold and no decision has been made yet. We expect a decision to be taken in the next two to three months.”

Derek Blake, South Norfolk's cabinet member for planning, housing and built environment, said: “The appeal was allowed because the inspector didn't feel it was visually intrusive. This is a highly subjective matter but its true there is quite a lot of street furniture there already.”