Victory for residents in fight to halt phone mast

PROTESTERS opposing the installation of a phone mast in a residential area have won their battle. In a David and Goliath style clash, Letchworth GC residents are celebrating as T-Mobile has decided not to erect a 10m high mast outside the post office in N

PROTESTERS opposing the installation of a phone mast in a residential area have won their battle.

In a David and Goliath style clash, Letchworth GC residents are celebrating as T-Mobile has decided not to erect a 10m high mast outside the post office in Norton Road.

Terry Brazier, a member of Norton Road Area Conservation Group (NRACG), said: "We put up a good fight and managed to prove that we can actually beat these people.

"If people get together and work hard on a project they can overturn these big organisations."

He added: "Masts are going up all over the place so it's worth trying to capture people's imaginations."

TCI, agent for T-Mobile, has informed NRACG that the phone company will instead progress with a site share of the existing 20m high Orange installation, on the Ascot Business Park, off Icknield Way.

This decision has been made following a petition, signed by hundreds of people, as well as suggestions from NRACG of alternative sites for the mast.

Mr Brazier said: "We helped them to make a different decision and this new site is not on a residential road, or one of the main roads going into Letchworth.

"We have won because we stood up for ourselves.