RESIDENTS OPPOSE MOBILE MAST AT TUNNEL END BEAUTY SPOT

7.45.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Jun 2008

Residents and local councillors are opposing plans to install a mobile phone mast at Standedge Tunnel, Marden.

Residents and local councillors are opposing plans to install a mobile phone mast at Standedge Tunnel, Marden.

Standedge Tunnel - also known locally as Tunnel End - is a popular Huddersfield tourist attraction and beauty spot with several listed buildings. The canal reopened in 2001 following a 20 year restoration programme and boasts the highest, longest, and deepest canal tunnel in the country.

Network Rail currently proposes to erect the mobile mast near to the centre of the beauty spot on the site of the old railway line.

In response to the plans, a residents group headed by Julie Henry have gathered a petition registering local people's fears that this scenic area will be spoiled by the new mast. It also puts forward an alternative location for the mast which would mean the mast would be out of view.

The petition is to be presented to Network Rail this week.

Cllr Nicola Turner (Lib Dem, Colne Valley Ward) says:

"The petition being presented to Network Rail clearly sets out local people's opposition to the proposed location. They are not opposing the mast full stop, just the place where Network Rail is currently proposing to set it up. Tunnel End is a very picturesque area that has received a great deal of investment and setting up the mast there is quite unacceptable. Possibly Network Rail have reasons for choosing this specific point on the site, I don't know, but if there is a solution that can be found which will satisfy everyone concerned, I hope Network Rail will choose to pursue it. And residents have put forward what seems a very sensible alternative plan. They've suggested putting it further along the line in a cutting which would mean the mast would be out of view. Myself and my ward colleagues have spoken to Kirklees planning services who say that Network Rail don't actually need planning permission for this so we're really relying on them to be sensible about the situation. We'll just have to wait to see what their response is".