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Mast plan rejected
VILLAGERS have welcomed the rejection of plans for a huge phone mast in the centre of Wickwar.
The Voice reported in March that telecoms company CK Hutchinson (UK) Ltd wanted to build an 18 metre (59ft) mast for mobile phone 5G networks on land beside the High Street.
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It is the latest of a series of applications for 5G masts in the area –one planned for Winterbourne was rejected by South Gloucestershire planners earlier this year, and one in Beesmoor Road, Frampton Cotterell, was rejected in 2021.
The company said the mast was needed to fill in 5G phone coverage black spots – and one Wickwar resident had commented in favour of the planning application, saying it would be a welcome improvement.
But others objected - local mum Lucy Pond had said she would stage a sit-in protest to stop it.
It was turned down after 174 letters of objection from local people who said it would be a blight on the village.
They included Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall, who said it would affect the historic character of the village.
South Gloucestershire planners agreed, rejecting the plan and saying the mast would be “an imposing structure” in the conservation area, causing “an unacceptable level of visual and residential amenity impact”.
Wickwar parish councillor Angie Carroll, who was instrumental in the campaign, said: “The site they wanted to use was wholly unsuitable as they wanted to put it right in the middle of the grassed area at the entrance to our lovely old High Street."
She said villagers were not against having a mast - but it needed to be out of view and away from the conservation area and housing.
www.avonfire.gov.uk
Green belt campaigners start with a walk
A CAMPAIGN group which has been revived to fight large-scale Green Belt development in the Frome Valley is organising a walk through some of the area's green spaces.
VALID (Villages Against Locally Intended Development) campaigned successfully from 2016 to 2019 to stop 1,800 houses being built on green fields opposite Roundways, near the Ring O'Bells pub in Coalpit Heath.
Now the group has reformed with a new team, amid concerns that plans for hundreds more homes are in the pipeline on local fields.
In April's Voice the group said the presence of dormouse boxesused to survey the protected species before development - in hedges around fields between the River Frome and Bristol Road set alarm bells ringing.
The group held two meetings in May to rally supporters and form a new committee.
Members of VALID and the Frampton Nature Group will be leading a walk from the Centenary Field behind The Globe pub, off Mill Lane, from 2.30pm on June 17 and are inviting residents to join them.
Frampton Cotterell parish councillor Dave Hockey said: "If you are concerned about losing our beautiful countryside, we hope you will join us for this walk along the Frome Valley, stopping at Black Rocks for a break and a photo opportunity along the way.
"‘Save our Countryside’ T-shirts will be available for people on the walk."
The group is calling on anyone who is not able to join the walk but feels strongly about possible loss of our countryside to email validcampaign@gmail.com or check the VALID action group Facebook page for more details.