A Chapel Allerton councillor has spoken out against plans by a communications giant to erect a new mobile phone mast in the heart of a residential area in North East Leeds.
Mohammed Rafique has criticised the latest planning application from telecommunications Telefonica O2 to replace an existing phone mast opposite the junction to Halcyon Hill on Harrogate Road.
The new application comes after a previous submission was rejected on the grounds that it would be a visual impairment on the area.
The new application has reduced the height of the mast from 15m to 12.5m and has halved the number of antennas from six to three in order to reduce its visual impact.
However, Rafique and a number of local residents remain opposed to the application. He said:
"I just want to make local residents aware of this new application as re-submissions can sometimes slip under the radar.
"Many local residents submitted letters of objection to the previous planning application so I am certain that this latest submission will attract similar interest.
"But I strongly believe that the reaction of residents to this renewed application will be no different.
"The finer details of the new application are not the issue for residents who live nearby. Their issue is that this is not an appropriate location for a new phone mast and that the company responsible need to think again about where they are looking to put it."
Rafique said he would be urging Leeds planners to reject the application.
