-Blot on the landscape' phone mast bid may fail

The planning committee of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council meets this morning to discuss an application on behalf of One2One for a 17m mast and equipment cabin between Guisborough cricket and rugby clubs.

The proposal has caused anger among residents and the town council, as well as Guisborough ward councillors and the cricket club.

A spokesman for the town council said: "This is visually unacceptable in this location. This proposal would be visually obtrusive and seen from a considerable distance.

"Secondly, but not less important, are the serious concerns of nearby residents in relation to microwave radiation. Nearby residents have quite rightly expressed their worries."

Ward councillors Peter Spencer, Alma Thrower and Valerie Halton also expressed concern about the health of children who use both sports fields, as well as those living around the proposed site.

Coun Spencer said yesterday: "Alternative sites could be found, like the trading estate on Morgan Drive, which is only 1,000m away and at the same elevation. The development would be a great blot on the landscape."

In defence of the application, Crown Castle International, for One2One, claimed the site was chosen because it is not on the roadside and is not close to a school or a major residential area. It wanted to build on a roof top, but could not find a suitably tall building, so chose the cricket club site.

Although the council cannot refuse the proposal on health grounds, the borough's planning officer has still recommended it is rejected.

A report that will go before the members of the planning committee said: "The applicant has been requested to supply additional information regarding the significance of this development, but this has not been supplied.

"In the absence of any evidence that there is an overriding need for the development in this location, it is considered permission should be refused on visual amenity grounds."