Council rejects mobile phone mast for Southwark Bridge Road

Despite a recommendation by planning officers that the installation should go ahead councillors firmly rejected the application.

Telefonica O2 proposed a twenty foot high post and an equipment cabinet at the base be placed outside 118 Southwark Bridge Road. The building is occupied by the British School of Osteopathy's clinic and flats.

The plan to install the middle tier micro-zone network equipment was demand-led, claimed an O2 representative.

"We have a strong equalities policy in Southwark," said Cllr Adele Morris speaking at the Borough & Bankside Community Council meeting at Charles Dickens School on Wednesday evening.

She stressed that, apart from a single post for the Barclays Cycle Superhighway, there was no other street furniture on the exeptionally narrow pavement.

Letters of objection had been received from neighbours claiming that the mast would affect the view of and outlook from number 118, pose a possible health risk and restrict pedestrian movement on the footpath.