A NEW telecommunications mast can be built on the outskirts of a moorland village councillors have decided.

The high-tech 11 metre tall pole on land to the north of Dingle Farm, Blackburn Road, Edgworth, was approved by Blackburn with Darwen Council planning committee on Thursday night.

The application by EE Ltd was a resubmission of an bid to site a 15 metre mast on the site refused by councillors in November.

North Turton Parish Council and nine nearby residents objected saying the proposed site of the mast was not suitable as it was close to people's homes, was in the protected green belt, and would affect householders private views.

Wensley Fold Labour Councillor Dave Harling warned the committee: "We couldn't refuse this if we wanted to do.

"If we refuse it the applicant we will be straight into losing an appeal and costs against the council."

Committee chairman Cllr Dave Smith said the reduction in size of the mast between applications made it hard to refuse.

Nearby resident Spencer Allan appeared before the councillors to say the panoramic views from his house would be spoilt by the mast and said it should be sited in Green Arms Road instead.

West Pennine ward Conservative Cllr Neil Slater asked for consideration of the application to be deferred so a meeting between EE, the planning committee, North Turton Parish Council and residents could take place to find a more suitable site for the mast.

He added: "It's in the wrong place."

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council's regeneration spokesman said the site was surrounded by electricity pylons and telegraph poles of a similar size.

He said: "I don't think we have any planning grounds to turn this application down and we would lose and appeal."

Conservative committee members abstained in the vote.

Planning manager Gavin Prescott said: "The intention of the development is for the provision of enhanced 4G mobile coverage to serve the emergency services alongside local commercial markets.

"The proposed mast would have an exact height of 10.96m with a dark brown outer coating applied.

"It is acknowledged that other sites may exist locally that could potentially accommodate the development.

"Alongside a 36 per cent height reduction the developer is willing to plant landscaping around the most exposed flanks of the compound area.

"Such measures are seldom seen with telecommunications developments."