Teignbridge Rejects Controversial Exminster Phone Mast

3.58.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 11th Apr 2009

Cllr Alan Connett on site of proposed phone mast

Planners have rejected controversial plans for a modern style mobile phone mast close to a Devon landmark listed building in Exminster.

Teignbridge District Council have told national firm O2 that they must look again for a new location for the 'telegraph type' phone mast which they had wanted to erect near the important Grade II* listed Devington Park. Designed by Charles Fowler., Devington Park was previously the Exminster Hospital , which closed in 1987. It is a prominent building which can be partly seen from the M5 elevated section south of Exeter .

Local residents opposed the O2 plans, arguing that there is a better location for the phone mast, which O2 wanted to support its new 3G mobile services.

Local county councillor Alan Connett welcomed the decision: " From the start I have felt the location chosen by 02 was not good and alternatives have been suggested. As a result, 02 said they would look at those options, which included land owned by the NHS elsewhere in the village. This is a victory for residents and it also helps protect the setting of Devington Park , which is nationally important and in the top 10% of listed buildings in the country. In the past, the Government has stepped in to order urgent repair work to protect the building before it was

converted into its current use," added Cllr Connett.

O2 told Cllr Connett earlier this week that all site acquisition work is currently on hold for a couple of months following the earlier announcement the firm and Vodafone will be sharing networks to allow for 'network consolidation.'

Cllr Alan Connett

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