Mast work halted (From Western Telegraph)

Mast work halted

AN ATTEMPT by O2 Airwave to erect a Tetramast on Uzmaston Road, Haverfordwest, without planning permission, has been halted.

Workmen arrived on the site yesterday morning (Tuesday) with a 15 metre temporary mast.

They would have completed the work by the evening, but for the intervention of county councillor David Bryan, Uzmaston and Boulston Community Council, and local residents. A Pembrokeshire County Council enforcement officer visited the site and advised the company to stop work.

A county council spokesman said: "O2 Airwave has halted work. The planning application is still in the consultation stage, where the public has the right to put forward objections and comments."

The bid to put up the mast comes a week before a public meeting is to be held to discuss the controversial plan.

Cllr David Bryan said: "This is a disgraceful thing for O2 Airwave to attempt."

He said that Islwyn Howells, who is county councillor for the area, went on holiday on Saturday and asked him to keep a watching brief.

A spokesman for O2 Airwave said: "We have submitted a planning application, but it was vital for the community to get this mast erected quickly. As it would be a site share with Vodaphone, we saw no reason not to start work ahead of planning permission being granted."

There was strong opposition last year from Uzmaston and Boulston Community Council to an application for a mast near the junction of the Uzmaston and Creamston roads. The new site is nearby.

Local residents are worried about effects on health of the powerful microwaves emitted by such masts and they fought hard against the earlier application, which was turned down in June 2003.

The public meeting will take place at 7.30pm, on Tuesday (August 31st) at Uzmaston Church Hall.