Families' triumph on mast crusade

Families have won their battle to prevent a 48-foot high telephone mast and antennae being erected in Kidderminster.

The victory is the sixth to be won by residents who have been fighting off applications to erect masts in Franche for several years.

Their latest campaign has been against mobile phone giant Vodafone who wanted to erect a mast with three antennae contained within a shroud, rising to 48 foot high, at Wolverley Road.

Among those campaigning against the scheme were parents with children at the nearby Barnabees Nursery and regulars at the Three Crowns and Sugar Loaf who said it would spoil their enjoyment of sitting at tables outside.

Wyre Forest District s planning committee refused planning permission because they said the pole would have been significantly higher than nearby street lighting columns.