Losing mast appeal results in hefty bill (From Gazette Series)

Losing mast appeal results in hefty bill

DROPPING its opposition to four Tetra masts, including one in Wotton-under-Edge, two years ago has cost Stroud District Council £105,000.

Cllr Stephen Glanfield, Tory cabinet member for finance and corporate services, announced the settlement to three communications companies at the last council meeting.

But taxpayers will not be left to foot the bill.

Cllr Glanfield said: "There's a contingency fund and there will be no actual impact on the public at all, except obviously in emotional terms.

"But I will probably be able to find a way in which I can gradually replenish those reserves."

He praised the council's success in negotiating down an initial claim of £133,000.

In 2002 the council faced appeals over decisions to refuse permission for masts at Rodborough Lane, Stroud police station, Selsley Common and Wotton Hill.

After losing the Rodborough appeal it decided to cut its losses.

Withdrawing from the subsequent appeals left it liable for the costs that Medlock, Spectrasite, Transco and BT Airwave had incurred preparing to fight the council.

A spokesman said: "Once we received (the appeal) decision we saw that the writing was on the wall for the public concern issue (about health risks).

"We therefore decided that it was pointless to continue with our cases and trying to shorten the process might at least minimise the costs that would inevitably be incurred by the appellants."

Campaigner Lynne Edmunds was scathing about the council's withdrawal.

She said: "For the council to leave us exposed when they had decided to refuse those applications was an utter disgrace.

"If they now have to pay, it's their fault. Nobody knows what the outcome would have been if they had fought the case."

And she warned: "To use these costs as an argument in relation to any other mast application is utterly dishonest."

The masts have since been installed.