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Joy as 'eyesore' phone mast bid is withdrawn
Campaigners are celebrating after Vodafone withdrew plans for an "eyesore" mast in Fulwood.
The mobile phone giant wanted to place a 13.8m high pole with three antennae and equipment cabinets on the footpath outside the Little Sisters of the Poor care home in Garstang Road.
But residents wrote 28 letters of objection, while 100 signed a petition objecting to the scheme.
They complained the mast would clutter up the pavement, cause obstruction to schoolchildren and the disabled and be an "eyesore."
They also said masts can cause "potential health risks with radiation", though this has been dismissed by Vodafone.
Moor Park ward councillor Frank De Molfetta, who helped drive the campaign, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon.
"I personally want to thank the residents and the Fulwood conservation group for their efforts and what they have done. This has happened as a result of numerous letters going to Preston Council – it is very good news.
"I personally feel it would have been an eyesore and had a detrimental impact visually in the area. They (Vodafone) keep reassuring us about the health issue but I still believe it's there."
Michael Farrington, of the Fulwood Conservation Group, said: "It seems Vodafone has realised it is an impossible place to try and put up a mast.
"To put it up in the Harris Park Conservation Area is inappropriate and it would have been visually wrong on the street."
A spokesman for Preston Council confirmed Vodafone has withdrawn the application.
He said: "We are writing out to everyone who has objected. It seems it was withdrawn partly due to opposition from local residents."
A spokesman for Vodafone said: "The proposed Vodafone radio base station at Garstang Road, Fulwood, is required to improve the 3G coverage to our customers in the area. This will provide our customers with access to mobile broadband with speeds similar to those offered by fixed line broadband suppliers.
"Following pre-application consultation with a number of stakeholders, a planning application for this site was submitted in early November.
"Further consultation with the local planning authority has indicated that the planning application was likely to be refused and it was agreed with them that we would withdraw the application and they would assist with a search for an alternative."
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Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
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