Horwich: Bolton Council rules on Longworth Road mast plan

The 15m high slim monopole was intended to have been put up on Longworth Road, Horwich, with additional plans for supporting cables and a wraparound equipment cabinet.

But the proposal proved controversial, raising complaints from residents and their representatives, and has now been thrown out by the council.

Cllr Richard Silvester, who represents the area, said: “I am obviously very pleased that this proposal has been refused.

“Nine local residents objected as well as myself and my Ward colleague, Cllr Kevin McKeon.

“The planning officer has agreed that such a mobile phone mast towering above neighbouring residential properties would cause visual harm to those residents and to their living conditions and was against planning policy.

“The planning officer also agreed that the mobile phone company had not done enough to find alternative suitable sites.”

The plans would have seen a 15m phone mast built (Image: Hutchinson 3G UK Ltd)

The plans for the Longworth Road phone mast had been lodged in October and following the objections they received, on Monday, December 12, the council decided to refuse the bid.

Planning officials did so on the grounds that the mast would “cause harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area” and they had received "insufficient information" from the company behind the idea.

This comes after several other recent cases in which proposals for new phone masts have been rejected in Horwich and elsewhere across the borough.

One such plan was rejected on Lee Lane, Horwich, while residents have also raised concerns about a proposed phone mast on Mytham Road in Little Lever last October.

Cllr Silvester said: “We have managed to have a number of these masts refused now in Horwich because of the unsuitable locations which have been proposed.

“This phone company has yet again wasted everyone’s time and their own company’s money coming up with another inappropriate site.

“If the phone companies were to work with local councillors firstly before they were to put forward a planning application, we could help them site these masts away from being directly in front of peoples houses.

“That is certainly what I object to and there are plenty of other locations. The phone companies have a target area which is often pretty wide for a masts location and ward councillors around the borough know their wards and where these masts could go.

“Why do they not contact us in advance because we can advise them what is best, and that helps everyone, residents, the council and them?”

But CK Hutchinson Networks UK argued that masts like these can help to improve mobile network coverage across Bolton.

A statement with the original plans said: “This site will enable 5G coverage to be provided to this area of Bolton.

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“The government recognises that widespread coverage of mobile connectivity is essential for people and businesses.

“That is why the government is committed to extending mobile geographical coverage further across the UK, with continuous mobile connectivity provided to all major roads and to being a world leader in 5G.

“This will allow everyone in the country to benefit from the economic advantages of widespread mobile coverage.”