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Councillors sorry after Castle Bromwich phone mast error
United Kingdom Created: 8 Jun 2009
Councillors have apologised to residents after a mobile phone firm legally installed a mast three years after the council refused permission.

Officers at Solihull Council forgot to tell T-Mobile that it was refused permission in May, 2006.

They were supposed to write to the company within 56 days of rejecting the application, but they did not.

The council is now powerless to stop T-Mobile, despite rejecting the application in the first place.

The mobile phone giant has now erected the mast near the to the Coach & Horses pub and St Mary and Margaret’s School, in Bradford Road, Castle Bromwich. Campaigners, who handed over a 147 name petition against the plans in 2006, are now furious.

One of the lead campaigners against the mast, Janine Smith, said: “There is real anger that this has been allowed to happen.

“They put their hands up to the mistake, but we don’t want apologies.”

The 42-year-old mum of one added: “Apparently nothing can be done to stop it, so we have spoken to our MP, Caroline Spelman, and she is writing to the Ombudsman.”

A spokeswoman for Solihull Council said: “Due to an administrative error the decision notice to refuse permission was received by them after the statutory 56 day period.”
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Source: Birmingham Post, Nick McCarthy, 08 Jun 2009

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