APPLETON ANGRY residents branded the decision of councillors to approve plans for a 15-metre telephone mast by protected woodland in Appleton a disgrace at a meeting at Warrington Town Hall last Wednesday.

Protestors jeered and shouted ‘shame on you’ after Warrington Borough Council’s development control committee voted 5-3 in favour of Telefonica O2’s plans for the telegraph column and equipment cabinets on land off Longwood Road.

Two previous applications for the mast, which will be shared by O2 and Vodafone and will be sited close to the junction and roundabout by Dipping Brook Avenue and Pewterspear Green, had been withdrawn and refused permission respectively.

Appleton homeowner John Pittaway argued that the mast would be ‘totally out of character’ with the wood.

He said: “The mast will tower over the tree line and dominate the woodland.”

However, Paul Street, a senior town planner speaking on behalf of the applicants, said the mast ‘will be seen against the trees, not above’.

Appleton Parish Council had objected to the plans saying existing mast sites nearby could be shared.

The Mayor of Warrington Clr Brian Axcell, representing the parish council, suggested other locations should be considered and raised concern for the welfare of bats living in the wood.

But Mr Street said it was not possible to share sites at Warrington Golf Club or Fir Tree Close.

And John Groves, Warrington Borough Council development control officer, who recommended approving the plans, advised the committee that the Bat Conservation Trust said there was ‘no evidence whatsoever’ that radio waves from the mast would harm bats living in the wood.

Westbrook Clr David Earl asked Mr Groves for the council’s record in defending decisions at appeal when the committee had voted against telephone masts recommended for approval in the past.

And Mr Groves revealed that only once has the council successfully defended such a case – meaning that each time it failed the cost of the applicant’s appeal was paid for by Warrington taxpayers.

Westbrook Clr Bernard Long added that he believed there were ‘no grounds to reject this case’ and that it would simply be approved at appeal.