Phone mast likely to be approved despite opposition
North Allerton News 23.07.05
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a mobile phone mast near a village on the edge of the North York Moors are likely to be approved, despite strong opposition.
Orange wants to erect the 20-metre mast at Great Broughton, next to a public footpath among trees by Bradley Beck, about a kilometre outside the National Park.
Hambleton District Council's planning officials are recommending local councillors to approve the mast, which would be painted brown.
Great Broughton Parish Council members are unanimously against the scheme.
They said that the location was unsuitable and would impact on the area.
The neighbouring parish council at Kirkby also wants to see the proposal thrown out.
In a report to planners, it said: "This is a beautiful area and if one is really needed, why can it not be placed on the Stokesley industrial park?"
The National Park authority has yet to respond to the application, but the local branch of the Ramblers Association said the mast would "impinge" on people using the footpath.
The site is about 700 metres from the nearest school and 150 metres from the nearest home. A total of 122 letters of objection have been received by the district council, along with a 38-name petition.
Their objections include health concerns, the impact on tourism and the effect it would have on views from the National Park and trails in the area.
However, planning officials said that while it was important to ensure the rural landscape was protected from inappropriate development, the application site has no special designation.
A report to the development control committee said: "The need for the proposed mast has been established and there is no alternative location that would be appropriate. The visual impact of the mast is outweighed by the technical and operational requirements."
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a mobile phone mast near a village on the edge of the North York Moors are likely to be approved, despite strong opposition.
Orange wants to erect the 20-metre mast at Great Broughton, next to a public footpath among trees by Bradley Beck, about a kilometre outside the National Park.
Hambleton District Council's planning officials are recommending local councillors to approve the mast, which would be painted brown.
Great Broughton Parish Council members are unanimously against the scheme.
They said that the location was unsuitable and would impact on the area.
The neighbouring parish council at Kirkby also wants to see the proposal thrown out.
In a report to planners, it said: "This is a beautiful area and if one is really needed, why can it not be placed on the Stokesley industrial park?"
The National Park authority has yet to respond to the application, but the local branch of the Ramblers Association said the mast would "impinge" on people using the footpath.
The site is about 700 metres from the nearest school and 150 metres from the nearest home. A total of 122 letters of objection have been received by the district council, along with a 38-name petition.
Their objections include health concerns, the impact on tourism and the effect it would have on views from the National Park and trails in the area.
However, planning officials said that while it was important to ensure the rural landscape was protected from inappropriate development, the application site has no special designation.
A report to the development control committee said: "The need for the proposed mast has been established and there is no alternative location that would be appropriate. The visual impact of the mast is outweighed by the technical and operational requirements."
Starmail - 24. Jul, 15:36
