Plans have been lodged with a council for a second time to build a 5G mobile phone mast opposite a war memorial - months after councillors threw out an initial application.
This time, the proposed mast would be 10ft lower, but councillors and an MP have vowed to 'continue to be part of the fight against this'.
The Manchester Evening News first revealed plans by a telecoms company for 'prior approval' for a 59ft-high mast on a wedge of ground just 15 yards from the war memorial at the junction of Church Lane and Higher Lane in Whitefield, Bury.
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The memorial sits in the grounds of All Saints Church in Stand in remembrance of 175 men from the area who gave up their lives in the First World War. It also marks the names of a further 80 local men who died in the Second World War.
The mast was proposed by CK Hutchison Networks Ltd, owner of phone service provider Three, but in December last year, Bury Council's planning committee kicked the plans out, commenting on the mast's size, position and 'intrusive' design.
Now a similar application for a mast 49ft-high has been lodged again. It is understood residents have been sent letters informing them of the new bid.
The site lies within a conservation area which includes one of Bury's two Grade I-listed buildings.
Campaigners said a mast at the site would 'be an eyesore in one of the most beautiful parts of our town'. Councillor Elizabeth FitzGerald, who represents the Pilkington Park ward on Bury Council for Labour, tweeted a statement.
It said: "Over the weekend, residents in Pilkington Park, Whitefield, received a letter from the council notifying them about a second application from CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd to build a 5G mast outside the cenotaph at the junction of Higher Lane and Church Lane.
"In December last year the council rejected the last application based on many reasons including, but not limited to, its size, position and a design that would be 'intrusive', would 'represent an unacceptable impact on the All Saints Conservation Area and a 'detrimental impact on the setting' of the listed buildings.
"The new application is now 15 metres, rather than the 18 metres proposed in November 2022 but most of the application remains similar in terms of the siting and design of the mast and cabinets."
In a joint statement Michael Rubinstein, the Labour candidate for Pilkington Park, coun FitzGerald and Bury South MP Christian Wakeford said: "As local political leaders and community activists in Pilkington Park, we are disappointed that this application has been put in again.
"We were delighted to have joined fantastic community volunteers in opposition to the 18 metre mast in November, so it is deeply disappointing to see this return as a proposal for a 15 metre mast.
"We will ask questions of officers to understand the application and the impact of the reduction in height so we can formulate our objections.
"We think that the proposed mast will be an eyesore in one of the most beautiful parts of our town.
"We are deeply proud of Whitefield's history. The All Saints Conservation area includes the Grade II-listed cenotaph and one of Bury's only two Grade I-listed buildings, Stand All Saints Church.
"As such we will continue to be part of the fight against this, working with Whitefield residents, other political leaders and community groups."
The records show the application was received by the council on April 26.
In a statement at the time a Three spokesperson said: "Access to 5G has a vital role to play in boosting local economies, helping residents and businesses get faster and more reliable network coverage. This is why we’re working with the local council in Bury to roll out the UK's fastest 5G network so that we can keep everyone connected both now and in the future.
"We have carefully considered vehicle, cycle and pedestrian safety in our application. The relevant local highway authority is a statutory consultee on all planning applications of this nature. They will assess the location for all aspects of vehicle, cycle and pedestrian sight-lines and safety, and advise the planning department accordingly."
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