Residents win first round in mast fight

The company was refused planning permission by Caerphilly council to erect an 18-metre mobile phone mast within a fenced compound at Llyspentwyn Farm in Oakdale.

Local residents were in uproar over the plans because they were concerned about the safety implications of the mast being close to a comprehensive school and scores of homes.

They also complained of a lack of consultation from the telecommunications giant.

Residents from the Ynys y Coed estate, Underwood Road, Groveside Road and High Tree Rise organised two separate petitions against the proposal.

Members of the local authority's planning committee voted unanimously to reject the application.

The matter will now come back to the council in three weeks for reasons of refusal. Vodafone will then have six months to appeal to the National Assembly if they want the decision overturned.

Diane James, from the Ynys y Coed estate, was one of 30 residents who went to the meeting. She said: "We're happy with the decision of the council but we are definitely going to prepare for an appeal.

"There was no consultation with any of the residents and we thought the location was completely unsuitable with so many children living on the estate.

"There would have been an awful lot of unhappy people had planning permission been approved."

Penmaen councillor Allan Pritchard said: "I really hope that Vodafone will now see sense and not go to appeal on this one.

"If they do, then it will be an example of a big company not just riding roughshod over local residents, but also over a council.

"I hope an alternative site away from the school and residents will be looked at."

Jane Frapwell from Vodafone said: "Obviously it's very disappointing when you receive a refusal for a planning application.

"We never take a decision to appeal lightly and we will review very carefully what is being said to us in the reasons for refusal and look again at our plans to see if there is anyway it can be altered."