Residents win battle over 15 metre tall phone mast on Fleetwood Road and Guildford Avenue in Norbreck

Residents have won a battle to prevent a telephone mast being built in their neighbourhood which they say would have harmed the outlook over an area of green space.

The proposal to install a 15 metre tall mast on Fleetwood Road, at the bottom of Guildford Avenue in Norbreck, has been withdrawn by applicant WHP Telecoms after being submitted to the council in May this year.

Objectors to the application had warned it would a “total eyesore” and added there was already a similar mast nearby which had been installed despite strong opposition.

Norbreck ward councillors Julie Sloman and Emma Ellison have welcomed the decision to pull back on the scheme after receiving numerous complaints about it.

Coun Sloman said: “We are delighted this application has been withdrawn. With the support of the residents we have worked hard to now stop this structure from being built on two separate occasions, and ironically it would have been situated within metres of the one we first fought off.

“It is essential we protect our remaining green spaces and any development on them will be contrary to the council’s own commitment to protect them.

“This development would have not only ruined a precious and well tended green area but would have been a blight on the surrounding properties, particularly because of the scale of the development and its impact overlooking single storey properties.”

Coun Ellison said: “I am really pleased the application has been withdrawn, this is not the right place for such a structure especially as it’s close to one that’s recently been installed elsewhere.”

Masts are springing up across Blackpool as part of measures to improve infrastructure for mobile phone networks.

Councillors in Claremont are opposing proposals for a 15 metre tall mast on Claremont Road in North Shore, which would be built close to a children’s play area in Claremont Park if it goes ahead.

The latest mast application to Blackpool Council is for installation of a 15 metre tall pole on land on Highfield Road in South Shore, opposite the junction with Whernside.

The Government is supporting expansion of digital infrastructure due to its role in developing the economy.