Residents are up in arms about plans to install a telephone mast at Davenport Green.
Neighbours held a residents meeting at Lindow Cricket Club on Sunday 11th December, to discuss how they can stop a 15m high replica telegraph pole being erected off the verge on Knutsford Road, opposite Church Road. The meeting was attended by Cllr Gary Barton.
Danielle Thompson, of Upcast Lane, lives opposite the site and is very upset about this proposal.
She told me "The local residents are simply devastated that a huge multinational corporate can effectively just come along and uproot our heritage and beautiful surroundings and site a huge, 15 metre high ugly, dangerous mobile phone mast outside our houses, in the middle of our beautiful green.
"We are doing everything we can to stop this mast being erected and Councillor Barton confirmed that George Osborne has been notified and he is aware of the situation and will hopefully put a call into the planning office."
The planning application, submitted by Mono Consultants, on behalf of Vodafone, is for a mobile mast which will be shared by Vodafone and Telefonica - to provide them both with improved 3G network coverage to the Davenport Green area of Wilmslow.
Telefonica was granted planning permission to install a mast at The Riflemans Arms on Moor Lane in December 2010, however, the site provider later changed their mind about accommodating the installation so the verge on the western side of Knutsford Road, opposite the Church Road junction, has been identified as a possible option.
Danielle said "Davenport Green is the cornerstone of the area, housing old road signs and historical stones and surrounded by particularly attractive and individual 1850's properties which have been lovingly and sympathetically preserved. The Green is clearly visible from the road and to many residential properties which surround it.
"It is a highly attractive and much sought after residential area, predominantly because of its heritage and beauty and residents consider it a privilege to live here because of its unique and beautiful character. Great care is taken to preserve the look and feel of the area (which is treated as a conservation area) - we plant bulbs every year to make our Green look even more beautiful."
Residents are particularly concerned about the timing of the application and the fact that the deadline for objections is January 4th.
Danielle said "It is extremely devious and extremely strategic that Mono Consultants have put this planning application in just before everyone leaves Cheshire East for their Christmas Break.
"We have asked our Councillor to call it to committee however the committee meeting on the 14th December was cancelled and the January committee meeting will fall after our 4th January deadline, we really feel we are being screwed over by yet another global multinational organisation who gives absolutely no regard for our local heritage and one of the few "green" areas left in Wilmslow.
"It seems we have absolutely no rights whatsoever when it comes to these companies erecting phone masts wherever they want to and ruining our treasured beauty spots."
Cllr Gary Barton commented "I am very concerned about the possibility of a mast being located on Davenport Green. I understand the need in the modern world for good mobile signal coverage, but this should not come at the cost of damaging one of the oldest green spaces in our town.
"Davenport Green is a recognised part of Wilmslow and should be protected. Planning law does not allow us to consider potential health implications, but the damaging visual affect and availability of other locations for the mast are reason enough to object to this application and I fully support local residents in their objections to this application."
Cllr Barton added "Regarding the concerns about a planning meeting, Cheshire East has various different ways of making decisions concerning planning applications. It is always frustrating when companies deliberately use the Christmas break in a cynical attempt to circumnavigate the democratic elements of the decision making process.
"However, our planning team is well aware of the strength of feeling surrounding the potential location of this phone mast and are working hard to find a satisfactory solution."
Information submitted with the application states "It is considered that the proposed installation would appear visually unobtrusive within the street scene as it is located near the rear of the highway, set amongst existing street furniture, meaning that it will appear as part of a series of vertical features along the highway thus aiding its assimilation into the immediate environment.
"The proposed installation will exist of a shared replica telegraph pole radio base station, which will be seen as a feature not uncommon within such a setting. Therefore, in time, it will be accepted a apart of the urban fabric of the area."
The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East planning portal by searching for reference 11/4326M.
