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Published:
August 26, 2009
Exclusive:
O2 phone mast in Burnham town centre will stay in position
This
mobile phone mast in the centre of Burnham-On-Sea will remain
in its current position for at least a further nine months, the
Planning Inspectorate has ruled this week.
The
15 metre tall mast, which is mounted on a portable trailer, was
first installed at the rear of Somerfields, which is now a Morrisons
store, in May
2007 after O2 was forced to remove its mast in nearby Marine
Drive.
 The
company applied to Sedgemoor District Council for full planning
permission to retain the mast for a longer period while it looked
for a permanent site in the Burnham area, but Sedgemoor planners
turned down the
application.
O2
then appealed against the decision and the Planning Inspectorate
held a public inquiry earlier this summer.
However,
he appeal's inspector, Tim Belcher, has this week ruled in favour
of O2 and concluded the appeal should succeed.
A
condition has been placed on O2 so that the mast be removed within
nine months if planning permission is granted for a new proposed
mast on top of Burnham's Ritz Cinema or 18 months from the date
of this week's permission, whichever is the earlier.
"In
my view this is an acceptable mechanism to ensure a continuity
of service is provided in Burnham," said Mr Belcher.
"If
permission for the Ritz Cinema proposal is refused, O2 confirmed
that they would require 18 months to make alternative arrangements
to provide coverage in the relevant parts of Burnham."
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