A VILLAGER is planning to raise a petition to protest against plans to erect a 15m telecoms mast in the middle of Llechryd.

The mast is to be put up next to the BT exchange, down a lane between the Seven Stars pub and the Robert Davies Motors garage.

A similar planning application was rejected back last year by Ceredigion County Council because of elements of the planning application being missing.

This time the plan has gone through under a general permitted development order, part of the Welsh Government’s strategy to improve the network overall along with fibre broadband.

The 15m high mast will have three antennas and two dishes, together with associated equipment cabinets within a fenced compound.

Local resident Dave Dailey is one of those unhappy at the mast’s siting.

“I think we all accept there is a need to improve mobile communications in the area but to put the mast in the heart of the village just seems wrong,” said Mr Dailey.

“I believe these masts can cause health problems and there is the village school just up the road. The site is towards the bottom of the valley – why not site it on the top of a hill where it would give better coverage.

“It makes no sense and will detract from the village and will have an impact on so many people and on the local wildlife.

“It all seems very undemocratic to me. It was refused the first time but then has just been pushed through with no regard to the local community.”

Mr Dailey says he has the support of many others in the village and is now looking to start a petition to try to overturn the decision.