CONTROVERSIAL plans for an 18m mobile phone mast in a Chester beauty spot have been scrapped.

Councillors and residents in Great Boughton and Huntington united to oppose proposals for a Vodafone antenna and base station on Chester Road, near Caldy Valley Nature Park.

Cheshire West and Chester Council received more than 250 written objections from angry locals before plans were withdrawn last week.

Resident Pete Rowe said: “Anything over 15m has to go through full planning permission and this was an unlawful application for an 18m structure under ‘permitted development’.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has made the time to write. It is a testament to the strength of feeling within the close-knit community and the depth of value which is placed upon Caldy Valley Nature Park and its fantastic volunteers, the Friends of Caldy Nature Park.

“We sincerely hope that such applications will be given more careful consideration by mobile phone operators in the future in order to avoid the needless distress and upset this has caused hundreds of residents.”

Great Boughton councillor Pamela Hall said: “We are all delighted to hear that the plans have been withdrawn and would like to highlight what an amazing job local residents have done to campaign, raise awareness and make their views heard.

“However this may not be the end of the story. The plans were withdrawn based on the proposed height of the mast so there may still be a revised planning application received at a later date.”

Cllr Keith Board added: “Local authorities can only object to proposals of this type on the grounds of siting and appearance so it really was down to residents to make sure their views were known.

“We would like to thank them for their efforts and ask them to remain vigilant should another planning application be received in the future.”