CAMPAIGNERS in Prenton have won their fight to have plans for a phone mast described as a 'monstrosity' rejected.

Local residents "worked hard and came together as a community" to fight plans for the 20-metre high 5G mast on Prenton Hall Road, which were submitted by CK Hutchison Networks.

They petitioned, wrote letters and composed emails to object the mast and associated equipment cabinets, which they regarded as "detrimental to health". As a result, the proposal has now been refused and stopped at its first stage of planning. 

The planning committee's reason was for rejection of the proposal was, as follows: "The proposed development, by virtue of its siting and appearance, would be unduly prominent in the street scene, leading to a detrimental effect on visual amenity and the character of the area.

"Having regard to the limited justification put forward for the location of the development, the economic and social benefits of improved mobile connectivity are outweighed in this instance by the harm to amenity arising from the location of the mast.

"As such, the application fails to comply with saved policy TE1 of the Wirral Unitary Development Plan and the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework."

The campaigners were joined in their fight by local Green Party councillors together with Alan Dollery of Prenton Tennants Association, whose support was praised as "invaluable".

Local resident Diane Carey was among the campaigners. She told the Globe: "We want to reassure our community and other communities that ours, and their, voices can be heard.

"This application didn't fit in with the character of the area. Residents were concerned of the health impact of the radiation and also it didn't fit into the look of the area, with it being so high.

"This a walkway to schools and we have scout huts. The thinking seems to be that you can't have a mast 200-metres from schools, but you can have them 200-metres near children's bedrooms.

"Without the support of local residents, tenants association and Green Party councillors who opposed and objected to it, a petition of 350 signatures and 32 separate letters of objection, this mast would probably have been approved.

"Thanks to people power, the proposal has been refused.

"Phone masts are hugely detrimental to health."

Alan Dollery, of Prenton Tennants and Residents Association said: "My concern was that the application was put in early December, but residents weren't told an application had been put in.

"When I learned that the application had been put in I thought we can't have this monstrosity of a phone mast.

"We had three weeks to campaign against this. Why weren't many people told about this application?

"The other thing I'm concerned about is the green space the mast would have occupied. We don't a monstrosity that would stick out like a sore thumb. There's better use for the land."

Mum-of-two, Michelle Skelly, lives near the site of proposed mast. She said: "The mast would have affected my children's health.

"I've got two nephews and two children; one with Down's Syndrome and this would have affected their health.

"I'm asthmatic, so am very concerned."

Harry Gorman, Green Party Councillor for Prenton, told the Globe: "I am pleased that this application has been rejected. It would have been enormous and unsightly, and I agree with the reasons for refusal given by the planning department.

"It is important that in this drive for new technology, we don’t inadvertently harm the public realm with the clutter of grey boxes and the like. Instead I’d love to see this patch of grass enhanced with more trees as part of the Council’s planting strategy.”

CK Hutchison Networks has six months to appeal the council's decision to reject its proposal.