Mobile phone giant O2 is demanding almost £214,500 from cash-strapped Sedgemoor District Council following an enforcement notice it issued in Burnham-On-Sea, it has emerged this week.
The company wants an “award of costs” made against the council after an enforcement notice requiring the removal of a temporary telephone mast near Marine Drive, pictured right.
The matter will be discussed by the council’s development committee next Tuesday (March 9th), but it appears that the council will only be able to ensure such a mistake does not happen again.
The council took enforcement action following expiration of the temporary siting of the mast for six months, during which time O2 was allowed development. The company immediately appealed against the enforcement notice, which was upheld at a planning inquiry by a planning inspector.
A council spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The inspector also ordered the council to pay O2’s costs, but did not indicate the amount. As such this decision cannot be challenged.”
The amount was later determined to be almost £214,500.
