A SEVENTEEN-METRE mast could soon stand in the middle of an Ulverston housing estate if a planning application goes ahead.

Official plans have been submitted to South Lakeland District Council for the installation of a '17.5m high monopole with three antennae' in Croftlands.

Tempers in the community had already flared when residents and councillors first became aware of the plan in May.

Earlier this week, there was further ire when work crews began excavating at the proposed site in Oakwood Drive, with residents feeling they were being bullied by big business.

Pat Appleton, who lives nearby, said: "The phone company appears to be riding roughshod through the planning application [process]."

Mrs Appleton said a consultation between residents and the applicant, Vodafone, had suggested several alternative locations - including Urswick Road, far away from the main housing estate.

"We suggested alternate locations; they refused all of them," she continued.

It is understood that the work conducted at the site was to create trial pits, dug by Telefonica, the parent company of the development's applicant, Vodafone.

In May there was cross-party support from Ulverston Town Councillors, with both Conservative and Labour members voicing their discontent with the plan, calling the site "intrusive."

A spokesman from Vodafone said the development would see an improvement for users of their services.

He said: "This development will allow for the provision of improved 2G, 3G and 4G services for Vodafone and O2 customers."

The full planning application can be found on the SLDC website at www.applications.southlakeland.gov.uk. Comments can be left by residents in support or opposition to the plans.

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