60ft telephone mast for Prees to go ahead after Shropshire Council error

Shropshire Council has apologised after planning officers made a mistake that saw Vodafone given approval to set up the mast in Mill Street, Prees, near Whitchurch.

It has emerged the authority failed to make a decision on the proposal by a set date, meaning consent was deemed to have been granted. It is not known if the council intended to approve or refuse the bid.

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.

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 60ft mast right next to two people's bungalows.

"Shropshire Council has admitted making a mistake but it is still going ahead.

"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."

Councillor Raymond Hirons, chairman of Prees Parish Council, said: "The parish council did object at the start.

"We understand planning permission was to be refused but an error was made. How an error was made we don't know, but we have made a formal complaint to Shropshire Council."

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."

He said the council is "communicating" with residents about their concerns.

Ilana Clark, spokeswoman for Vodafone, said: "Under planning law, mobile phone operators are required to submit an application for prior approval for a mast of this kind.

"The local planning authority has a set time to refuse permission, after that time period has elapsed and if no response is sent approval is deemed to have been granted.

"In this case Vodafone have this sort of consent to build a mast which will provide network services for their customers. We are working with the local planning authority on this development."