Shropshire Star 11.11.05

Campaigners who have been fighting for more than two years to have a controversial phone mast taken down in a village in Mid Wales were celebrating today after it was finally removed.

Officials dismantled the telecommunications mast from a field in Caersws on Wednesday.

Although companies can apply to use the base in the future, mast owners Crown Castle UK Ltd, would have to go back through the planning system to get approval.

Lembit Opik, MP for Montgomeryshire and leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “The deeply unpopular telecommunications mast in Caersws has finally been taken down. This marks the end of a long, hard and successful campaign.

“The people of Caersws can be very proud. By working together with each other and with me, we got our voice across very effectively.

Steve Arnold, spokesman for Crown Castle , said an investigation had been carried out with some operators to see whether there was demand for the equipment but there was not.

“We have taken the decision to move the pole mountings but if we were to receive an inquiry we would go through the relevant planning requirements,” he said.