A CONTROVERSIAL plan to put up a phone mast near a youth centre is back from the dead having been refused just months ago.

Phone network giants EE have lodged revised designs to erect the structure by Harmans Water playing fields.

This comes despite councillors rejecting original plans for the mast in November 2020 following a councillor revolt against officers’ recommendations to approve.

READ MORE: Why councillors refused plan for new phone mast near youth centre

Planned for installation off Calfridus Way near The Wayz youth centre, the mast would have served EE customers in the area.

But councillors did not like the proposal, suggesting the mast would spoil the character of the area and would not enhance the local green belt.

This rejection did not deter EE, it seems after the network giant submitted a revised plan for a new mast in the same location.

The key difference between the separate applications is that the height of the mast has been reduced from 27.5 meters to 25 meters.

A planning statement read: “We would again reiterate that we believe that we have demonstrated that the development of the telecommunications, having regard to the technical and operational constraints, has been designed to minimise environmental and visual impacts through careful sitting and design choices.”

READ MORE: Phone mast set to go up at Thames Water sewage treatment centre

Despite this alteration, two neighbours have already lodged objections to the new application.

One wrote: “I cannot see any tangible difference between this application and [the application] which was refused at the planning committee.

“The same refusal comments still apply despite this application being 2.5m shorter.

“There has been no consideration to mast sharing or camouflaging of the mast to reduce the visual impact on the neighbourhood.”

READ MORE: EE's original plan for phone mast in Bracknell

Another added: “BFC refused the same application last time for reasons of visual amenity of the area and the fact that the site is a designated public green space. The site is also close to houses, a youth club and a children's play area, to which the installation may be detrimental on health and/or visual amenity grounds.

“How much longer is the planning process going to allow repeated applications for the same thing one after another when there is a clear history of previous refusals? This wastes huge amounts of council time and taxpayers money.”

The application is currently pending consideration.

For full details of the plan, enter planning reference 20/01061/RTD at planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk