A 27.5m telecoms mast is set to be built in Salford despite the council opposing the plan. The town hall said the application from Cornerstone – a mobile infrastructure company – for a new tower situated in the car park of Genting Casino on Cromwell Road would be ‘out of scale’ with the local area. A report on the outcome stated that the ‘height and bulky headframe’ of the mast would be an ‘incongruous overly prominent feature’ in the neighbourhood. It added that the tower would be ‘particularly prominent in winter when trees are not in leaf.’ The council also found that the applicant ‘has not sufficiently demonstrated why alternative locations for the telecommunications equipment have been discounted.’ Behind the casino car park are rows of houses and shops which could be able to see the tower. But the Planning Inspector overruled the council and granted permission for the mast to be built after an appeal. It judged that ‘no harm would arise to the surrounding character and appearance’ of the area because of the plan. The mast will support 12 antennas, two GPS modules, four transmission dishes, 36 Ericsson radio system (ERS) units, as well as cabinets and an electric metre located at ground level. Coun Phil Cusack said: “Even though we do our best we still get overturned on appeal. “Many [telecoms masts] that we have seen rise around the whole of the city are permitted developments and don’t need planning permission. “This is not only a local issue, but it’s a national issue as well.” A spokesperson from Cornerstone said: “Cornerstone are pleased to note that our appeal against the local authority’s decision to refuse permission for a telecommunications development on Cromwell Road, Salford was allowed. “The Planning Inspectorate found that the proposed development would result in no harm to the character and appearance of the area, especially due to the screening from the trees and the commercial development locally. “The proposed site will bring improved network services to the area.”
