CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 13-metre high mobile phone mast in Crewe will come before planning bosses next week.

The application by O2/Vodafone is for a telecommunication tower at the northern side of Crewe Road in Wistaston.

The site is currently a grassed verge with a footpath between the site and the buildings to the north.

This application was to be dealt with under the council’s delegated powers but local councillor Margaret Simon asked for it to be referred to the planning committee.

She said: “My reasons for calling it in are primarily the height of the mast its visual impact, together with concern regarding highway safety at this location which is immediately adjacent to the shared entrance/exit for the Tesco Express, Kwikfit and Grocott's Garage site.

“This is a prominent location within the residential area of Wistaston and this proposal would represent a visually incongruous insertion that would harm the character and appearance of the area.”

Letters of objection have also been sent in to the council by local residents concerned about the impact on road safety and driver visibility, pointing out that a previous application had been refused Plans for a 14.8-metre tower were refused in April because its ‘height, siting and design would create an alien and intrusive feature’.

The proposed mast would sit taller than the existing telegraph poles and lighting columns in the vicinity by some three metres.

But a planning officer said: “The proposal would successfully assimilate with existing street furniture and would be marginally taller than the lighting column to the west.

“As a result it would not appear as an alien or incongruous feature or out of scale within the locality.

“Furthermore it is considered that the benefits of extending the telecommunications network in the area outweigh the limited visual impact of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area.”

Cheshire East Council’s Southern Planning Committee will consider the proposals at a meeting in Crewe Library at 2pm on October 5.