A CONTROVERSIAL phone mast in Bardsey will be taken down to make way for development.
Orange Personal Communications Services has been served a notice to remove its Scarsdale Ridge mast by the field’s owner, who plans to develop the land.
But O
range recently erected a new mast close to its existing one on the site although this has now been demolished.
The company’s is still seeking retrospective planning permission, however, for a possible new mast on a temporary basis while it looks for a suitable alternative location.
A spokesman for Leeds City Council said a decision on the application was likely to be made by the end of August.
Julie Wolstenholme, a member of the Bardseymasts protest group, has urged residents to give their views to Leeds City Council on any possible new mast while they have the chance.
She said: “It would help if it was moved at least 500 metres away from the nearest property. I know they have got to have these things, but the masts near you don’t necessarily make much difference to your reception.
“I’m sure they could move it to a more suitable spot and make it more disguised as well.”
The application is the latest in a series by mobile phone companies wanting to erect masts in the Bardsey area.
A three-year battle by Bardsey couple Chris and Geoff Nunn against the installation of a mast at Smithy Lane ended in 2005. The mast had been erected by T-Mobile after Leeds City Council failed to refuse planning permission before the required 56-day deadline.
As well as asking for more sensitive siting, campaigners have called for better research on the effects of mobile phone masts on those living nearby. Reports of increased levels of terminal illnesses in local residents have led to fears the masts are dangerous, but so far there has been no conclusive proof of their effects.
Ms Wolstenholme said: “That’s a concern of course, because you don’t know really what the effects are. They need to have more studies and spend more money on that so people will know it’s definitely OK.”
Residents of other villages, including Barwick-in-Elmet, have protested against the installation of communications masts near their homes.
Views on the application for Scarsdale Ridge can be submitted to Leeds City Council by writing to Planning Services, Development Department, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD and application number P/08/03445/FU/NE. Alternatively, go to www.leeds.gov.uk/publicaccess.
l What do you think of the mobile phone masts around our district? Visit www.wetherbynews.co.uk to give us your views, or write to us at 9 Westgate, Wetherby, LS22 6LL.
vicky.carr@ypn.co.uk
