City councillors have rejected plans for a temporary mast on a trading estate.
Airwave applied for permission to Brighton and Hove City Council for the 15-metre tall mast at the Fairway estate in Moulsecoomb.
Officers recommended the scheme should be given temporary permission but it was turned down 7-3. The mast is intended to be part of the national system to improve police radio communications.
Moulsecoomb councillor Francis Tonks told the plannning committee: "They should be able to find a better place to put it. It is a monstrosity and it is near to people's homes in Appledore Road."
Ransit Cooner, for the applicants, said the mast was strictly temporary and would soon be switched to a permanent location nearby where there was already a mast.
Several councillors, including Tory Carol Theobald, were worried about possible health risks.
Liberal Democrat councillor David Watkins said: "There is enough evidence to make us think twice about it."
But Labour councillor Roy Pennington said it was hard given current information to sustain an objection on health grounds.
Thursday November 27, 2003
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