Vodafone call to Assembly (From Penarth Times)

Vodafone call to Assembly

MOBILE phone giant Vodafone wants the Assembly to overrule the council on a controversial planning application for a mast in Penarth.

The company has appealed against a decision by Vale councillors, who agreed with planning officers that permission to build a mast near two nurseries in the town should be refused.

In May, the Vale of Glamorgan Planning Committee voted to refuse permission for a 10-metre high mast on Clive Place, near Orchard Day Nursery and Nightingales Nursery on Albert Crescent.

Councillors said the mast would represent "an alien and visually intrusive figure within the context of the Penarth Conservation Area, and consequently the proposal would neither preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area."

The matter now passes into the hands of the Welsh Assembly Government planning inspectorate.

Cllr Maureen Kelly-Owen said: "I hope that the appeal is dismissed, and I shall be making my views known to the planning inspectorate.

"We have discussed the perceived health risks of these masts extensively and a report by our planning department underlines that this is an area for the Welsh Assembly not for local authorities.

"Our refusal was based on the appearance of the proposal in a conservation area and I feel very strongly that we were right to turn it down.

"I would encourage people who have objected to do so again by writing to the planning inspectorate."

Penarth Town Council also opposed the mast application for the same reasons as the Vale and will now make a further representation to the Planning Inspectorate in support of a refusal notice.

In its grounds for appeal, Vodafone says the proposal for the telecommunications installation is of a design and in a location which'protects' the character and appearance of the Penarth Conservation area.

Vodafone also says there is a demonstrated need for a base station in the locality and that there is no other available site which meets the company's coverage requirements which is acceptable to the planning authority.

The company argues that the proposed development accords with planning policies.