Delight as Dudley mast plans put on hold
Controversial plans to raise a mast on a busy Dudley road have been put on hold.
Dudley Council planning bosses have agreed that work to install a new 57ft telecoms mast on Halesowen Road will halt whilst they search for an alternative site.
Contractors WHP Telecoms Ltd and MNBL, which represent EE and 3 mobile, agreed to a short-term extension on their lease for Wells Court while planning officers monitor council-owned locations for other options.
It comes after around 30 members of the Netherton community grilled Dudley Council planning officials over their blunder which led to mast being marked for the road.
A prior application for the mast was responded to by Dudley Council a day later than the allocated 56 day window – something officials say related to an electronic failure.
Netherton, Woodside and St Andrews ward councillor Qadar Zada, who led the campaign to stop the raising of the mast on Halesowen Road, said he was 'delighted' at the decision.
He said: "I am delighted that the planning department has seen sense in suspending the activities planned for one of the busiest roads into Netherton.
"I am concerned that the local consultation has been questionable and I would like to make sure that any movement with this has the full input of the community and ward councillors.
"After all it is the community who have to live with the consequences of the development. I will continue to press the council to listen to local people."
