Leitrim County Council has voted to block planning permission for a controversial mobile phone mast in the county. At a meeting last night, councillors unanimously invoked powers in the 1963 Local Government Act to overturn the permission previously granted for an Eircell mast in Ballinamore.
It is thought that the decision may have consequences for other mobile phone mast sites throughout the country. Both mobile-phone operators, Eircell and ESAT Digifone, have had their fair share of problems over the erection of mobile phone masts.
The masts have aroused a great deal of opposition in many parts of the country. At Tully, in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, the local community argued that the proposed Eircell mast was a visual blight and raised health concerns. Eircell had planning permission for the thirty-two metre high mast, but now members of Leitrim County Council have utilised the rarely used section of the 1963 Local Government Act.
Against the advise of officials of the County Council, Leitrim councillors voted unanimously to revoke the planning permission. Local campaigners tonight described the decision as unprecedented and said that it will have consequences for communities beyond County Leitrim.
Eircell, which has a month to decided to whether to make an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, tonight said that it was seeking legal advise on the decision.
