Legal action threat after 60ft phone mast for Prees gets go ahead
Residents said they may have to look into legal action after a 60 foot telephone mast is to be built in a village despite an error being made by council planning officers.
It emerged the authority failed to make a decision on the proposal by a set date, meaning consent was deemed to have been granted.
Prees Parish Council has made a formal complaint to the authority over the issue, while the decision to grant approval angered residents who objected to the plans because of the effect it would have on their properties.
Now residents said they are going to the Ombudsman and their last resort will be legal action.
Stephen Hankey, of Mill Street, Prees, said: "It is 250 yards from the centre of the village and there are many houses around here.
"It is going to be a 60 foot mast right next to two people's bungalows.
"Shropshire Council has admitted making a mistake but it is still going ahead. At no point have we been consulted.
"It is only through our own efforts that they have told us anything.
"I had a local estate agent out asking will it affect the value of my property and he said of course it will.
"We were consulted in January and had a letter saying an application had been put in from Vodafone. We objected straight away.
"We never heard anything else until about four weeks ago. Our neighbours who live closer to the site saw work being done. We didn't even know permission was given.
"We are going to the Ombudsman for them to look at it, our last resort will be expensive legal action."
In an email sent to Mr Hankey, Ian Kilby, Shropshire Council’s planning services manager, said: "I confirm that the application for prior approval for the telecommunications mast was considered in accordance with the relevant procedures up to the point of decision.
"At this point there was an error made by officers in how the decision was communicated to the applicant and this led to approval being granted.
"With this type of application if the decision is not communicated within a specific time frame permission is deemed to be granted. For this I apologise."
In a statement to the Shropshire Star, Mr Kilby said: “The mast is of a type that is permitted development under the regulations, but subject to a process of prior approval that allows the council to comment on matters of siting or design within a prescribed 56-day period.
“The council had some concerns, and the applicant has responded to these, which officers have since assessed.
“Shropshire Council is continuing to update those that have expressed concerns on this matter.”
