Fury at dishes on mast scheme

A resident has raised fears about a proposal to place three new dishes on a radio mast near his home.

Michael Smith, aged 64, has criticised the proposals submitted to Cannock Chase Council planners for the Gentleshaw radio site off Chestall Road, Cannock Wood, saying he was told three years ago the mast was at maximum capacity.

He has lived for 42 years at the Chestall Park house which is beside an old radio wave mast that has since accommodated telecommunications dishes for mobile phones as well.

Andrew Barrow, a spokesman for Central Networks, said the plans were to improve and upgrade the equipment on the mast to allow them to monitor the electricity network and keep people's homes in power.

He said until the upgrades were completed the three old and three new, smaller, dishes would both be on the mast at the same time but after two or three months the old ones would be dismantled completely.

But Mr Smith is angry about the siting of the mast. He said: "Imagine having that 20m from your bedroom and lounge windows. I live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on Cannock Chase. You would not expect the council to allow permission for the mast here."