Residents fear NIMBY ruling on phone mast
RESIDENTS who have fought a lengthy battle over a phone mast fear the council could become the ultimate NIMBY.
A prior approval planning application from communications giant EE has been submitted to Cheshire East seeking to site a 25m mast on council-owned Congleton Road Playing Fields, Macclesfield.
It is the latest twist in a two-year saga to replace a mast on industrial land on Moss Lane.
Previously EE had submitted an application for a grass verge on Penningtons Lane but permission was refused following a huge outcry from residents there.
However, the council then sent the refusal decision notice to EE too late so technically the company was allowed to place the mast at Penningtons
Lane and began the necessary work. Further uproar from residents stopped this work and now Congleton Road Playing Fields is the destination of choice.
But the protesters are concerned that Cheshire East Council will refuse the application and then leave their area as the under-threat location once more.
The council has previously said its own land would only be used as a ‘last resort’.
Linda Beaumont, one of the protesters, said: “We really hope that the playing fields application is passed as this would be the best place for the mast.
”But we think it will be refused as the council are not keen on its land being used and it will end up back at Penningtons Lane.”
Another, Colin Garlick, said: “The council is judge and jury on this, that cannot be right. There is a conflict of interests.”
Residents protested over issues including loss of green space, that the mast would tower over properties and also that it would prove distracting at what is a busy junction with Congleton Road.
Council planners refused the application on the grounds of the negative effect it would have on visual amenity and loss of open space.
But the notice informing EE of this decision was not received within the necessary 56-day period.
Among those to object were ward councillors and Gawsworth Parish Council. In the face of complaints EE has said it always seeks to minimise the visual impact of its phone masts, which are necessary to provide people in the area with good connectivity.
A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: “The council, in its capacity as the local planning authority (LPA), received an application from EE on 9 June 2020, for the installation of a telecommunications mast on land at Congleton Road playing fields in Macclesfield.
“Under national legislation, a proposed mast of this kind from an authorised operator does not require full planning permission but does require prior approval from the LPA in respect of its siting and appearance.
“This application seeks such prior approval from the LPA and will be processed and determined in accordance with planning legislation and policy.”