TENSIONS are rising as contractors arrive to start work building a mobile phone mast in Ulverston.

Permission to build a 17.5m mast in the Croftlands housing estate has been refused twice this year by Ulverston Town Council and South Lakeland District Council.

However, because of an allegedly misspelled email, the council planning department's refusal of the application was never received by the developer.
Under planning law, the local planning authority has a set time to refuse permission for this type of development.

After that time period has elapsed and if no response is sent, approval is deemed to have been granted and it is under this loophole that Vodafone has been allowed to go ahead.

Contractors have this morning arrived at the corner of Oakwood Drive and Central Drive to begin work and a group of local residents protesting against the mast have gathered at the site.