Enthusiast lodges appeal to planners (From Gazette Series)

Enthusiast lodges appeal to planners

AN AMATEUR radio enthusiast from Cam has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate following Stroud District Council's decision to turn down his application to erect a radio mast in his garden.

Bruce Nelmes, of Woodfield Road, had his application for a 12.75m mast rejected by the council's development control committee in November.

Members of the committee backed the objections of around 20 nearby residents and refused planning permission for the mast on grounds of its overbearing nature, undesirable appearance and perceived health risk.

But Mr Nelmes insisted that people were jumping to conclusions about his mast and that he was not doing any harm.

At the time he said: "Everyone thinks that it is dangerous just because it is a mast. This isn't TETRA - it's just a radio mast."

The appeal will be decided on the basis of an exchange of written statements by the parties involved and a site visit by an inspector.

In his submission to the inspectorate, Mr Nelmes cites several grounds for appeal including that the mast differs little from one that had permission, that he has had no direct complaints from neighbours and that the mast will not be illuminated.

Any decision is likely to be some time away, although at the time of the original decision the council's principal planning officer (south), John Balfe, said an appeal "may be likely to succeed".