Fears grow as Vodafone mast gets the go-ahead

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new mobile phone mast at a railway station have been approved, despite a storm of protest.

Vodafone has had its application to install a 15 metre communications phone mast at Blythe Bridge station approved by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council under delegated powers.

But parish councillors and residents opposed the plans, which were submitted to improve the 3G signal coverage in the area.

They raised concerns that the mast would be intrusive and too close to houses.

Chairman of the Blythe Bridge Parish Council Gill Burton, pictured, said: "It is very disappointing that the planning department has not supported Blythe Bridge residents over the application.

"Similar applications in Cheadle and Leek have been refused. The mast will be visually intrusive and there are also health and safety risks that haven't been addressed properly. Residents here feel let down by this approval. They seem to be building masts everywhere but there are some better sites around that should have been considered before this one."

Christine Snape is the parish clerk in Forsbrook and Blythe Bridge.

She said: "The council is worried there will be many similar applications taking place throughout Staffordshire Moorlands. There should be government guidelines for the design of phone masts, so that when planning departments throughout the country receive planning applications, the planning departments will be clear on exactly what designs are suitable.

"Siting of phone masts should also be carefully considered because although no potential health risks are proven one way or the other, there is public concern."

A spokesman for Vodafone said it was keen to improve the 3G signal in the area.

He added: "The proposed Vodafone radio base station at Blythe Bridge train station is required to improve the 3G coverage to our customers in the area. This will provide our customers with access to mobile broadband with speeds similar to those offered by fixed line broadband suppliers.

"We recognise that some communities are concerned over 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.

"The adoption of these guidelines has the formal backing of independent bodies such as the World Health Organisation. Typical public exposures from our base stations will be many hundreds, if not thousands, of times below these guidelines."

Vodafone has recently had plans for a similar mast at Froghall Road in Cheadle turned down and residents at the Brookhouses Industrial Estate are also fighting to prevent work which continuing on a mast near to their homes.