Phoney mast fails to trick Brickhill residents

5.07.00pm GMT Mon 5th Nov 2007

Cllr Charles Royden measures the two metre gap between the spot where permission for the phone mast was granted and the spot where T-Mobile has erected its phone mast, which is also bigger than the permission it was given for its size

T-Mobile are seeking retrospective planning permission for a telephone mast in Kimbolton Road which is bigger than they had permission to erect and which they have put up in the wrong place. The mast was refused planning permission by the Borough Council but allowed on appeal by a government inspector. However T Mobile have put the mast in the wrong place, in spite of being repeatedly warned even when they were erecting the mast that they were about 2 metres out.

Liberal Democrat Borough Councillor for Brickhill Charles Royden said:

"It shows contempt for the planning process that T Mobile have erected a mast which is in the wrong place, despite being warned throughout the process. My calculations are that the mast is about 2m away from the place where it should be, it is also a much bigger mast, being 28cm in diameter instead of 22cm stated in the planning application. It makes you wonder how can we can believe any assurances they make about these masts when the companies concerned can't even measure the diameter of the mast correctly."

Cllr Royden continued:

"Residents in Kimbolton Road object to this monstrosity and they will not have the wool pulled over their eyes by T Mobile who have tried to get away with installing a unlawful mast in the wrong place. Big companies need to be sent a clear message that they cannot ride roughshod over local communities."

Anybody who wishes to object to the mast should do so in writing to the Head of Planning Services at the Town Hall.