Duck pond phone mast threat

Councillors will be asked on July 25 to decide whether or not to back the structure on the site alongside Aldwick Road.

T-Mobile (UK) Ltd has given Arun District Council prior notification of its intention to install the 13m high mast with three shrouded antennae on top on the grass verge south of 276 Aldwick Road.

This is the property next to the duck pond. The mast would be installed between the duck pond and the road. Workmen were seen at the site last Fridaydigging a hole ready for the mast to go in. They were stopped by a vigilant member of Aldwick Preservation Society which runs the duck pond and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the site last month.

Alarmed Arun District Council leader Cllr Gill Brown, who is a member of the society, said: 'They said they were just digging an exploratory hole looking for pipes, cables and roots.'

The hole was next to a tree covered by a preservation order to reflect the character of the rural spot. The men replaced the earth they had dug out and Arun's tree expert, Mark Evershed, went to the scene that afternoon. He reported that no damage appeared to have been suffered by the tree. 'I am quite outraged that people can just come in and dig a hole. I object to this mast,' said Cllr Mrs Brown, who represents Aldwick East.

Aldwick Parish Council chairman Cllr Dr Jim Ramage said more scope existed for mast sharing to reduce the number of masts. 'This is a very flat area. It must be the easiest area to cover with a small number of masts,' he said.

The parish council objected to the mast proposals when T-Mobile carried out informal consultation before it submitted its formal notification to Arun.

In a supporting statement, the company admits the site is regarded as an area of special character. But it states: 'The site forms a grassed highway verge off Aldwick Road, which is surrounded by a backdrop of mature trees approximately 19m and adjacent to an existing lamppost at 11m in height. Just east of the site lies a main roundabout with lampposts of approximately 11m.

'The location will ensure that the development will not impact on the buildings identified as contributing to the special character of the area.'

Its proposals to install a telegraph pole lookalike will help the mast blend in, it comments.

Similarly, putting up a mast below the height of the surrounding trees will also ensure its impact is lessened.