TONGE Moor residents say their fears about a communications mast have been ignored.

Plans to put up the mast near their homes were given the go-ahead despite being rejected by Bolton Council.

Residents in and around Brailsford Road are bracing themselves for the arrival of the 15m high mast at Tonge Cricket Club after the decision by the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate.

A planning application by Telecomm Securicor Cellular Radio went to Bolton's planning committee in June.

It was rejected on the grounds it would detract from the residents' visual amenity.

But the company decided to appeal and the committee's decision was overturned by the inspectorate.

Leana Thornton, the Brailsford Road resident who led the fight, faces having the view from the back of her house obliterated.

She said: "The inspectorate determined it will not have any impact on our visual amenity.

"Hundreds of people objected and signed a petition. I can't see how a group of people in Bristol can make decisions which will have such an effect on us."

Mrs Thornton said their area lies within the Green Belt and the decision flies in the face of health issues surrounding phone masts.

She said: "We have heard a lot in the news about health worries and mobile phone masts.

"While we have not heard anything to say there is a definite cause for concern we have heard nothing to say there is not.

"Until they are absolutely certain these things are safe they should not be allowed near houses.

"Our other concern is about house prices which are bound to fall. It makes us wonder in whose best interests this decision has been made.

"We are now seeking our own legal advice to fight the decision.

"The council has been behind us on this one but what is the point in having a council if people so far away can simply ignore what has been decided."

Tonge ward councillor Nick Peel joined the residents in opposing the application.

He said: "I'm incredibly disappointed for them and sympathise with their concerns but there is little we can do now.

"I have spoken to the council's legal department and we cannot appeal against a decision by the inspectorate purely because we do not like it.

Decided

"The inspectorate has decided that developing more phone masts is more important than protecting the Green Belt.

"It has mentioned health concerns in its decision but adds they are unproven.

"Another reason for the permission was that it has the potential to be used by emergency services.

"It may be cold comfort, but that area is now covered so we can assume that any further applications would be for purely commercial reasons." TONGE Moor residents say their fears about a communications mast have been ignored.

Plans to put up the mast near their homes were given the go-ahead despite being rejected by Bolton Council.

Residents in and around Brailsford Road are bracing themselves for the arrival of the 15m high mast at Tonge Cricket Club after the decision by the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate.

A planning application by Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio went to Bolton's planning committee in June.

It was rejected on the grounds it would detract from the residents' visual amenity.

But the company decided to appeal and the committee's decision was overturned by the inspectorate.

Leana Thornton, the Brailsford Road resident who led the fight, faces having the view from the back of her house obliterated.

She said: "The inspectorate determined it will not have any impact on our visual amenity.

"Hundreds of people objected and signed a petition. I can't see how a group of people in Bristol can make decisions which will have such an effect on us."

Mrs Thornton said their area lies within the Green Belt and the decision flies in the face of health issues surrounding phone masts.

Worries

She said: "We have heard a lot in the news about health worries and mobile phone masts.

"While we have not heard anything to say there is a definite cause for concern we have heard nothing to say there is not.

"Until they are absolutely certain these things are safe they should not be allowed near houses.

"Our other concern is about house prices which are bound to fall. It makes us wonder in whose best interests this decision has been made.

"We are now seeking our own legal advice to fight the decision. The council has been behind us on this one but what is the point in having a council if people so far away can simply ignore what has been decided."

Tonge ward councillor Nick Peel joined the residents in opposing the application.

He said: "I'm incredibly disappointed for them and sympathise with their concerns but there is little we can do now.

"I have spoken to the council's legal department and we cannot appeal against a decision by the inspectorate purely because we do not like it.

"The inspectorate has decided that developing more phone masts is more important than protecting the Green Belt.

"It has mentioned health concerns in its decision but adds they are unproven. Another reason for the permission was that it has the potential to be used by emergency services. It may be cold comfort, but that area is now covered so we can assume that any further applications would be for purely commercial reasons."