Protesters get phone mast out of the woods

4:18pm Tuesday 20th February 2001

RESIDENTS of Chorleywood, who have campaigned against a 40-metre mast in Solomon's Wood, were celebrating a victory this week.

Orange's application for the mast was rejected on Thursday at a meeting of Three Rivers District Council's development control committee.

The decision was greeted with cheers and clapping from a packed chamber.

The application had met with vehement protests from residents of the village, since the proposal was lodged last month.

Of the 116 residents consulted about the proposal, 89 strongly objected. Chorleywood Parish Council also objected to the mast.

It is the latest in a long-line of contentious mobile phone mast applications in the village, which was the topic of discussion at a public meeting last month.

This follows nationwide concern about the potential health risks from mobile phone masts, heightened when the Government-backed Stewart Report failed to rule out the possibility of health risks, and advised a precautionary approach be adopted.

A report to the committee by officers recommended councillors should refuse permission for the mast because it would be detrimental to the landscape and would mean cutting down a number of mature trees.

Leader of the Council Ann Shaw said: "This is a monstrous proposition. It would mean quite an unacceptable loss of trees.

"This council has recognised the concerns about possible health risks but we are not permitted to use that."

Mr Colin Reeves, a resident of Valley Road, Chorleywood, spoke against the application.

He said: "This issue has evoked widespread concern in the community. A long list of councils have decided health risks do count.

"This ugly and intrusive mast will tower over trees in Solomon's Wood, and it will be visible from many roads in the area."

He added four potential buyers of properties in the area had withdrawn, after finding out about the mast application, and he expressed his fear property prices in the area would fall.

The committee unanimously agreed to reject the application.

Even if the application had been approved, it is unlikely the mast would have been built, as the council owns the wood and, therefore, as the landowner, has the final say on the proposal.

The council has now passed a motion, saying it would not allow masts on council-owned land.

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