A planning application to erect a 20 metre high replacement mobile phone mast on Chorley New Road in Horwich, in the vicinity of the Texaco garage, has been refused by Bolton Council’s Planning Committee.

Horwich North East Labour Councillor, Richard Silvester objected to the proposal and spoke at the Planning Committee meeting against the plans, because the new Monopole and an increased number of equipment cabinets would all be located directly in front of residential properties.

The Planning Committee had deferred the application in July after Cllr. Silvester spoke at the meeting and asked for the applicant to come up with alternative locations away from residential properties.

The best that the applicant proposed after discounting some alternative sites was to suggest moving the Monopole a couple of metres sideways from the original spot, however the impact on residential properties would have been exactly the same.

The application was to replace the existing phone mast which was erected in 2019 and drew criticism from local residents because of its position immediately in front of their properties.

Labour Councillor, Susan Haworth moved refusal of the application and a majority on the Committee including all five Labour Councillors voted for refusal.

Cllr. Silvester said, ‘I am delighted that the plans have been thrown out. I just think it is wrong to place these mobile phone masts right in front of residential properties. The applicant should now find another location away from houses to site the mast and all of the equipment cabinets. A number of local residents objected and I am very pleased that the Planning Committee decided that the proposals were unacceptable’.