A NEW 5G mast would be a “wholly incongruous” and “dominant” feature in the neighbourhood, planners have ruled as an application for a 20-metre phone mast in Great Lever has been thrown out by the local authority.

Planning permission for a telecommunications monopole on the grassy land in Green Lane, known locally as “bus island”, has been refused by Bolton Council.

Mobile network operator Hutchinson 3G UK, commonly known as Three, is in the process of selecting sites for new phone masts in the Bolton area and has submitted a series of applications for different locations across the borough.

But planning officers ruled that this 20-metre mast and base cabinet would appear as a “wholly incongruous” and “dominant” feature that would be harmful to the residential setting and out of scale with its surroundings.

Speaking in April, Andy Brabin, who lives nearby described the proposed mast, which would be twice the height of adjacent properties, as a “visual intrusion”.

As a boy, the Boscobel Road resident used to sell copies of the Bolton Evening News from the selected spot in Green Lane which used to be a bus terminus.

Mr Brabin has now welcomed the “sensible” decision by Bolton Council to refuse planning permission for prior approval of the mast.

He said: “This mast would have been totally out of place and have a negative impact on the amenity of the area.

“I recognise that these masts are needed but to place it in such a prominent position in the heart of a residential area is not appropriate.”

Applications for 20-metre telecommunication monopoles have been submitted to Bolton Council for sites in Chorley New Road near a Texaco garage in Horwich and in Deane Church Lane, next to ASDA in Daubhill.

WHP Telecoms Ltd has also written to councillors in Kearsley on behalf of Three inviting them to enter discussions before it submits plans for a mast in front of Kearsley Mount Shopping Precinct in Manchester Road.

Planning consultant Damian Hosker, submitted the application for the mast in Green Lane, Great Lever to Bolton Council on behalf of Three on April 1.

In a letter to the local authority, he said: “The location has been identified as being necessary for H3G Ltd business development and meets its specific technical and operational requirements.

“The identification of this location follows pre-application discussion with your department and we now make a formal application to you as planning authority.”

The applicant has six months to appeal the decision by Bolton Council.