By Tom Edwards

A PHONE mast has been given the go-ahead in a Worcester road after a controversial decision at the Guildhall.

T-Mobile will be able to put up a new mast on the corner of Woodgreen Drive and Newtown Road in Warndon on the strength of a single casting vote.

City council deputy leader councillor Barry Mackenzie-Williams opted to approve the proposal after the vote ended in 4-4 stalemate.
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The mast will be placed on a grass verge on the roundabout at the corner of either road.

There are already three other phone masts nearby - two at the front of the former Ronkswood Hospital site in Newtown Road, and one in Woodgreen Drive.

The city council planning committee heard it had received eight objections to the phone mast, one of which came from Warndon Parish Council.

Coun Mike Layland said: "Every time we get one of these proposals for a phone mast it aggravates local planners and residents.

"This is the third or fourth phone mast in the area, and this is one of the worst sites it could be put on.

"It's a cheap and easy solution and I think it's unsightly - we should pressure the company to put it somewhere else."

Coun David Tibbutt said he was concerned about the radiation levels it would emit and wanted it placed on private land if necessary.

He said: "Standards for protection to the public from radiation comes down and down, because we don't know what the safest level is."

Coun Paul Denham argued in favour of it by saying: "I don't see an issue from a safety point of view and see no strong grounds for refusal."

After a casting vote ended in a draw, Coun Barry Mackenzie-Williams considered abstaining before raising his hand on favour - saying there was no "grounds for refusal".

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "We are always sensitive about the location of new masts and will try to blend it in with the street furniture."

6:41am today