ULVERSTON residents opposed to the construction of a 17m telephone mast in the heart of their community have won strong backing from their local councillors.

At Monday's meeting of Ulverston Town Council members unanimously voted against a planning application made by Vodafone.

It has proposed to build a large phone mast and antennae in Oakwood Drive, near to several shops, and not far from Croftlands Junior School and Infant School.

Impassioned pleas were made in advance of the council's decision. Resident Nick Nibbs spoke on behalf of families in the community.

He said: "These families are horrified. It would be the first thing they see in the morning and the last thing they see at night."

Bharath Rajan, Labour councillor for the central ward, said: "This particular mast is I think unnecessary in a built-up area with a lot of residential accommodation around it.

"This application seems to be very biased towards excluding areas where people have got expensive houses. Being shoved towards the area where people have got comparatively modest houses."

Conservative councillor for the South ward, Norman Bishop Rowe, was equally vociferous in his condemnation.

He said: "It's going to be well over 60ft high. They are on concrete bases, painted white, and near a school. We are supposed to protect young children."

Members of the public who came to hear the council vote on the matter broke into applause when Cllr Bishop-Rowe concluded: "It is a grave over-indulgence on the company's part. I would strongly vote against it."

Although the council do not have a final say on planning matters, it's decisions are taken into account by the district council when planning matters are ruled on.

Ulverston Town Councillors voted unanimously to oppose the mast's construction.

Cllrs Janette Jenkinson and Helen Irving could not vote as they sit on the SLDC planning committee.

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