Angus residents who fought off a mobile telephone mast near their homes 10 years ago have failed in their bid to stave off broadband improvements deemed as “a necessary evil”.
BT Openreach had applied to build a 40-foot mast next to its telephone exchange in Forfar in order to provide faster broadband in the area.
Canmore Street residents successfully campaigned against the movement of a 3G mast in 2004, and again sent a spokeswoman to urge the development standards committee to turn down the new application.
Alison Simpson, who lives in the street, said the site of Castle Hill is on the town heritage trail and contained properties with links to Peter Pan creator JM Barrie.
“I would like to draw the members’ attention to a previous application by 3G 10 years ago at this location,” she said.
“Following a high-profile campaign the people of Forfar made their feelings known and the application was refused.”
On the new application, she said: “The applicant states the application will improve services although the coverage will remain the same.
“It seems to us this is not an upgrade but an attempt to attract customers all at the expense of residents.”
Councillor Bill Duff said the need for improved broadband coverage and quality is pressing.
He said: “We hear continually about various problems businesses in Angus have with poor broadband service.
“If you want better broadband service in Forfar and if you want your local companies to benefit from it, you have to support this.
“If you want to live in the 19th Century, by all means reject it.
“It’s a lot less high than the church steeples on the horizon there and they got permission during their time.”
Councillor Mairi Evans said she sympathised with residents of Canmore Street, some of whom will have a view of the mast from most of their windows.
She added: “But broadband is a massive issue, even from a tourism perspective, as people that travel use 3G and their smartphones to get about.
“This is where Angus is lacking. A mast like this is a necessary evil.”
Councillor David Fairweather agreed with Mrs Simpson and said the development would cause unacceptable visual impact, and made an amendment to refuse the plans.
But the motion to approve the plans was carried by eight votes to five.
In 2004, development committee members threw the Crown Castle plan out by nine votes to two, with one councillor describing the scheme, to move the intended mast site yards within the curtilage of the exchange, as “akin to moving the deckchairs on the Titanic”.