Approval given for phone tower

People living near Shildon Football Club's Dean Street ground yesterday urged members of Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee to throw out the application for the 18.6-metre high tower, by mobile phone company Vodafone.

The project will see one of the existing 20-metre high lighting towers in the ground replaced with a new lighting tower, along with three Vodafone panel antennas and one 300mm dish.

Its installation will increase the third generation mobile services coverage in the town and surrounding areas.

But residents say that the new tower will be an eyesore and could prove to be a health risk to people living nearby.

A lengthy debate heard how 110 letters of identical objections had been received against the proposals, along with a petition of 17 letters and a further nine independent letters.

Alan Ellwood, who lives in Southland Gardens, said the proposals were causing a great deal of stress among residents.

He said: "These towers are already an eyesore.

"At present we have to accept the glare of lighting from these towers because they were put in around 20 years ago without consultation.

"We can't do anything about that.

"But putting this antenna there is just rubbing salt in the wound.''

Mr Ellwood said that the residents had very real concerns about health issues and pleaded with the council to refuse it.

But councillors were advised that the tower would be smaller in height than the existing one and that, as long as the proposed mast met guidelines for public exposure, health issues should not be considered at planning level.

Councillor Billy Blenkinsopp said he felt the proposals should be refused.

He said: "We should listen to what the people are saying. They have obviously done their homework on health issues.

"We should take a stance against these mobile phone masts.''

The plans were put to the vote with 15 voting for it and ten going against it.