Poles apart as mast bid fails (From Borehamwood Times)

Poles apart as mast bid fails

8:10am Sunday 5th October 2008

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Plans for a new mobile phone pole in Shenley have stalled after councillors refused the application.

At a meeting of Hertsmere Borough Council’s Potters Bar and Shenley planning committee on September 25, councillors voted to refuse Orange’s application to erect a monopole — smaller than a full-size phone mast — in Black Lion Hill.

Just before the meeting, planning officers, who had originally recommended councillors approve the proposal, changed their report to suggest refusal.

Council planning officer, Chris Lewcock, said: “The highways manager had seen some problems before the meeting and therefore we decided we hadn’t got enough information to make a decision. We also hadn’t received enough information on the impact the pole might have on a neighbouring bridle way. If a new application is submitted with more information covering these points we will be likely to recommend it for approval.”

If the council had not made a decision by October 28 the pole could have been erected without permission, hence the refusal.

A spokeswoman for the mobile phone company said: “Orange is extremely disappointed the application failed because of a highways issue. We will be revising it to accommodate the comments from the highways agency and re-submit it as soon as possible.”

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