Mobile phone mast plans causing controversy in Edwalton

PLANS to build a new mobile phone mast in Edwalton have been criticised by some residents.

Vodafone and O2 have jointly applied for planning permission to build a 41ft-high mast on land west of Firs Road in the village.

News of the application has angered residents who say they don't want it built, with some concerned about the possible health and safety risk of having a mast close to their houses.

"We don't want it," said Mike Gutteridge of nearby Hollies Drive.

"It will completely blight the view from my garden.

"I am concerned about the microwaves having an effect on us and the nearby wildlife. We get a lot of birds round here and I don't think it will have a positive effect on them."

Mr Gutteridge, who has lived in the area for 26 years, said he would be writing to Rushcliffe Borough Council to complain.

Margaret Haslan, who lives opposite, has already written a letter of complaint.

She said: "I am against the mast, I don't think it will look aesthetically pleasing. And this is a conservation area."

Sheila Miller, of Firs Road, agreed: "We don't need it, and hope it gets turned down."

The borough council is expected make a decision next month, public consultation on the plans formally closing on May 30.

A spokesman for the networks said: "Vodafone and O2 have decided that we will share network assets wherever we can, which will reduce the overall number of new mast locations for both parties and therefore reduce deployment costs and follow the guidance set out in planning legislation.

"We have identified that we need to improve the coverage to our customers in Edwalton and have proposed a shared base station off Melton Road to the south of the junction with Firs Road.

"This location has been selected in an attempt to ensure that visual intrusion is minimised while meeting the coverage improvements that we seek and was selected after considering nine other options.

"There is no scientific basis for avoiding any land or building use – and in fact, with the increasing popularity of smart phones and other data-driven devices, it's essential we install masts where people want to use these devices: where they work, live and travel."

Borough councillor for the area, Peter Smith, said he had not made up his mind on the application yet.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/15187951/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CMobile0Ephone0Emast0Eplans0Ecausing0Econtroversy0EEdwalton0Carticle0E35820A0A20Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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