Disputed phone mast gets go-ahead

A CONTROVERSIAL Vodafone mast has been given planning permission after the communications giant said it looked at 16 alternative locations – but none were suitable.

Residents near the site, on top of an office building on Goodall Street, say the phone mast would be obtrusive, too near homes and dominate the area.

A Cheshire East Council committee deferred the application at a meeting in January to see if the mast could be placed elsewhere.

But Vodafone came back to say this was not possible and the council’s northern planning committee gave its approval on Wednesday, March 10.

Representing the company at the meeting was Jamaal Hafiz. He said: “A total of 16 sites [were examined] with reasons why they are not suitable provided.

“The proposed location is an established telecommunications site. There is a specific requirement for replacement installation at this location to provide equivalent to an improved 2G, 3G, and 4G coverage and capacity ensuring the area in and around Macclesfield maintains access to the latest technology.

“The operators’ permanent site was located on the old building.

“However, following roof repairs the operator now requires to relocate from the repaired roof.”

The tower will incorporate three mobile signal antennas and two transmission dishes.

Councillors felt that the work of examining alternative sites had been done ‘thoroughly’.

Vodafone wants to put the 5G mast at Goodall Street as another one nearby is now out of use and the network is suffering as a result.

On top of a building this new mast will be 2m taller than the old one.