UPDATED 10th April 2012
Local campaigners and residents are delighted as plans for the mast have been scrapped.
'Many of us were deeply concerned at the plans for this phone mast, which would be right on top of so many local doorsteps. Our opposition was loud and clear" said MP Jim Murphy
"But despite that, the Edinburgh Government didn’t listen and gave the developers the go-ahead. That’s why I’m delighted the plans have now been rejected and the landowners have done the right thing to stop the development. It just shows how pressure from a community campaign can stop proposals like these.'
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Barrhead News 10th April 2012
Smiles as mast plan is scrapped
PEOPLE power has thwarted plans to erect a mobile phone mast on land children play football on.
Residents are delighted the future of the threatened spot has been safe-guarded after new land owners the Royal Bank of Scotland gave their word to Barrhead Councillor Danny Devlin that a phone mast is not in their plans for the Blackbyres Road site.
A protest - led by local mum Sharon Sudding - had been gathering momentum since August 2011 when a plan to build a 60ft-tall mast on the site came to light.
East Renfrewshire Council originally refused telecom giant Vodaphone planning permission - but everything was thrown back to square one after that decision was overturned on appeal by the Scottish Government in February.
However, the plot was bought just last week by the banking giant who now say a mobile phone mast is NOT part of their plans for the site.
Organiser Sharon - who was worried a phone mast could spark health problems - told the Barrhead News this week: "It's really good news - I'll take that as a result.
"We set up a meeting with the new owners as soon as we heard they had bought the site but it had to be cancelled. Fortunately Councillor Devlin managed to get them on the phone and we heard the good news straight away.
"It's been a long process and we are absolutely delighted with how it's turned out.
"It makes our hard work over the months worthwhile."
Sharon and her determined band of protesters were concerned by how close any phone mast tower would be to a grassy area used by local kids to play football, as well as a busy residential area.
They received considerable political backing from East Renfrewshire MP Jim Murphy, MSP for Renfrewshire South Hugh Henry and Councillor Devlin, who said: "At the end of the day it was the community that won it and I take my hat off to them - especially Sharon Sudding.
"It just shows that perhaps the Scottish Government should listen to local communities more often instead of big business.
"The community stood up for itself and won deservedly."
15th March 2012
Last month I met with over 30 residents in Barrhead’s Grahamston Park to discuss controversial plans for a phone mast to be built. The opposition was loud and clear - people don't want a phone mast built on their doorsteps.
Despite the council’s rejection of the plans and around 75% of households lodging their opposition, local residents were fearful that the plans would be given the go ahead by the Scottish government, after Vodafone appealed against East Renfrewshire Council’s decision.
Watch my video blog with Sharon
They were right to be concerned. The final decision has now been made by the SNP government to give the developers the go-ahead.
Local people have been really clear that this mast shouldn’t go ahead. But now that the Edinburgh government has given it their backing the last chance is for the new owners not to go ahead with the plan. It would be a really good way for the new owners to get a warm welcome from the town.
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