Sep 8 2005

icAyreshire

By ERIC McGOWAN

MINISTERS are to have the final say on plans to erect a phone mast just 250 yards from Lawthorn Primary School.

North Ayrshire Council have been forced to refer the decision after receiving a bumper 129 objections to the proposal.

Planners gave the provisional nod for the 15 foot 3G mast to be put in place in Kames Court, Littlestane Road on Monday.

Now parents opposed to the plans are praying Scottish ministers will overturn the decision.

They argue that the mast could pose a risk to public health, is too close to the school, houses and parkland, is an eyesore, and could be a target for vandals.

They claim there is no need for 3G services in the area and there are many alternative locations available.

But at Monday’s planning meeting councillors said the concerns were not valid reasons to refuse permission.

They also noted that many of the objectors lived some distance away from the proposed site.

They approved the plans on condition that the mast and its equipment be situated a minimum of 450mm from the roadside and that within six months of the equipment becoming obsolete or redundant the mast must be removed.