ANGRY residents vented their frustration at the planning rules that allowed a mobile phone mast to go up unchallenged in Bournemouth.

A well-attended public meeting in St Saviour's Church, Iford saw dozens of residents express their dismay that there was nothing they could do about the Vodafone mast erected on top of a nearby building.

The mast was put up under permitted development rights so did not need planning permission.

But many residents refused to accept this and told ward councillors Adrian Fudge and Fran Ketchley they should have done more.

Cyril Baker, who chaired the meeting, said planning officers were "hiding behind" the excuse of permitted development rights and called for council staff to be more accountable.

"These people behind desks passing these things seem to be untouchable," he said.

"Surely someone somewhere can use a bit of common sense when dealing with controversial matters like this?"

But Cllr Fudge said an enforcement officer had already visited the site and ruled that the phone mast complied with permitted development regulations.

"It's the equivalent of you building an extension at your house," he said. "If you build it to certain specifications then you do not need planning permission and there is nothing anyone can do about it."

And Cllr Ketchley added: "If anybody wants to do something to stop phone masts, stop buying mobile phones and stop subscribing to the mobile phone industry. It's customer led."

Residents were urged to lobby MP Tobias Ellwood to press for a change in legislation.

First published: October 3