A PUBLIC inquiry into a phone mast at Codnor has been scrapped, after T-Mobile withdrew its appeal.
An inquiry was due to take place to see if the phone company should be allowed to keep its monopole mast at land near the market place.
The phone company originally launched its appeal on grounds of non-determination after Amber Valley Borough Council didn't make a decision on the future of the mast within an eight-week timescale.
At a meeting earlier this month, councillors on Ambe
r Valley Borough Council's planning board decided to press ahead with an inquiry despite warnings from senior council officers that the council could lose the case and land the taxpayer with huge costs. Within days of this decision by the council, T-Mobile withdrew its appeal.
However, T-Mobile's withdrawal does not automatically mean that the phone mast will come down. At the council meeting senior legal officers advised councillors that even if T-Mobile lost the appeal, they could still exercise permitted development rights, thus allowing the mast to remain.
Cliff Jones from Jessop Street, Codnor is one of a number of residents who has been fighting to have the mast removed. Cliff said: "I am pleased that T-Mobile has withdrawn their appeal, however, we just hope that this means that the mast has now got to come down. I would like to thank the councillors who made a stand and went against officer's recommendations and called for the public inquiry."
By Stephen Sinfield