CONTROVERSIAL plans to erect a mobile phone mast in the spire of an historic Church of Ireland church were shot down yesterday.
Cork County Council planners refused to grant planning permission to Vodafone to erect the mast in the spire of St Mary’s and All Saints Church of Ireland in Glanmire, on the outskirts of Cork city.
The planning application sparked controversy last month when local residents picketed outside a Sunday morning service.
The protest was condemned by local public representatives.
It also prompted an appeal from Church of Ireland Bishop Paul Colton for the picketing to cease.
He said it had caused “great distress to the small, but committed, group of parishioners, which includes children and the elderly”.
Residents’ spokeswoman Mary O’Callaghan defended the tactics and said people felt they had no option but to target the service.
She said people objected to the mast on health grounds.
It would have been within 20 metres of the nearest homes, about 100 metres from Coláiste an Phiarsaigh secondary school and, also, about 500 metres from a primary school.
Up to 44 objections were lodged against the project.
Local councillor and FG Dáil candidate Gerry Kelly welcomed the refusal yesterday.
Irish Examiner
No comments:
Post a Comment