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Vodafone under fire after mast appeal
Angry villagers slammed mobile phone giant Vodafone after it won an appeal to put a mast near a school.
In May last year, planning bosses rejected the telecommunications company's plan for a 12-metre mast, with a 1.6-metre antenna on top, in Western Terrace, West Boldon, yards from homes.
But residents were outraged to hear that the Planning Inspectorate has overturned South Tyneside's Council's decision.
Protest group Boldon Against the Mast was set up to oppose the plan after it was announced last year. Members feared the mast would pose a health risk.
Mum-of-two Victoria Elphinstone, 34, of Front Street, East Boldon, led the campaign and said residents were looking at further ways to fight the plan.
"We feel that Vodafone has been very greedy with this appeal," she said.
"A representative of Vodafone was actually at the planning committee meeting when it was rejected, and the firm clearly realised that there was a lot of opposition to the plans.
"That's the reason the council rejected the plans in the first place, because there was such significant opposition from residents. Everyone I've spoken to was against it.
"But we are currently seeking other avenues to carry on fighting the plans. We're not just going to let this go.
"We're absolutely appalled that Vodafone has neither listened nor cared about our objections."
More than 400 letters of objection were handed in to the council before the committee meeting last May.
"Phone masts can be extremely dangerous for the people living near them," said Mrs Elphinstone.
Dr Rob Matthews, speaking on behalf of Vodafone, said: "Our customers expect to be able to use their mobile phones and devices where they live, work and travel.
"We have identified that there is a need to improve the 3G coverage to our customers in West Boldon and have proposed a new mast in Western Terrace.
"We were disappointed that the original planning application was refused by South Tyneside Council and, after making a thorough review of the area, we decided that this site still represented the most appropriate site to provide the improved coverage and therefore we appealed the refusal.
"We are pleased that the Planning Inspectorate has upheld our appeal. There are no immediate plans to build the site but we are currently finalising our build plans for the next 12 months and expect the site to be included."
Residents wishing to object to the appeal, or wanting more information, can contact Boldon Against the Mast by emailing radiationfree@live.co.uk
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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