A PLAN to put up a 70ft mast at Bolton Golf Club has been bunkered by planning councillors.

They have refused permission for Mercury Personal Communications to put up the telecommunications tower on land at High Rid Lane, Lostock.

Councillors were told that the mast was needed to boost mobile phone service in the Horwich area.

Planning officers were recommending that it should be approved.

But councillors turned down the application because they feared it would be obtrusive. Eight letters of objection were sent to the council by residents who live nearby.

Horwich Liberal Democrat Cllr Bob Ronson said: "It is on a green belt site and the height of the mast would make it obtrusive." Cllr Guy Harkin (Labour) added: "It is in the green belt, it is obtrusive, we should throw it out."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.