Celebrations as residents block phone mast plan

The mast - which would have been five metres bigger than the iron statue being positioned at the side of the A80 - was intended to stand in the historical area surrounding Condorrat Library.

Last year we revealed that the giant antenna was being proposed by mobile giants 02 who said they wanted to increase their coverage in the area. However locals raised concerns that the mast was an innapropriate inclusion to a village which won a Beautiful Scotland award last year - and has a proud historical heritage linked to its mining past.

In addition, the area has been earmarked for regeneration - and many locals felt that the mast would detract from any improvements.

Groups such as Condorrat Community Council and Condorrat Tenants and Residents Association united in opposition to the plan as did councillors from opposing groups.

And on Friday they succeeded, in a move which is being viewed as a triumph for people power.

John Burke of the Tenants and Residents said: "This was a great result for Condorrat. We never thought we had a chance. Visual impact and concern for the safety of children who would have been blocked from sight of traffic by the two big cabinets that would have been on either side swung the decision in our favour."

Councillor Danny Carrigan said: ''I was delighted that Condorrat displayed a remarkable sense of unity of opposition to this misguided planning application

"The fact that the committee voted these plans down by a unanimous decision reflected the strength of feeling locally against the proposal.

"This was the worst possible site the company could have picked as it is right in the centre of our plans for regeneration of the village."

The committee ruled that O2 had failed to convince them that they had adequately explored acceptable alternative sites.

This was heavily emphasised at the meeting by local councillors.

Meanwhile NLC's head of planning and development Pat Kelly confirmed: ''Councillors, who had visited the site prior to the meeting, voted to reject the application.

"Both the applicant and objectors attended the special meeting of the planning committee."