Phone mast disguised at tree blasted as 'giant toilet brush' by fuming locals

Fuming locals have lashed out at a 25-metre-high phone mast disguised as a tree, arguing that it looks more like a "gigantic toilet brush", amid fears it will ruin the picturesque landscape. The mast, which was erected close to Dundas Home Farm in South Queensferry, Scotland, was granted planning permission in June last year, with authorities accepting the operators' proposal for a "tree-styled mast to reduce the visual impact."

However, a number of locals feel to attempts to conceal the mast with greenery hadn't proven effective, given that it stands at more than double the height of the actual trees in the vicinity.

Some locals feel the mast alone would have been preferable (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

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One unimpressed local joked: "Oh dear it definitely looks nothing like a tree and very much like a gigantic toilet brush."

Another argued: "I think the mast alone would have looked better."

A third person remarked that it looked like "God's lavvy brush", while a fourth jested, "They could put baubles on it at Christmas."

Following planning approval, more than 20 objections were made, with many feeling the mast would spoil the "visual amenity" of the Dundas Special Landscape Area as well as having a 'detrimental' impact on nearby Dundas Castle.

More than 20 objections were made after planning was approved (Katielee Arrowsmith SWNS)

According to one objection: "The application is pretty much identical to the application that was rejected in 2020 by the planning authority other than trying to disguise this mast structure as an extremely tall tree that would seem out of place in the area.

"It would appear that the height of this mast is considerably taller than existing surrounding trees and would be observed from local properties within the listed area including the livery and properties within the listed Dundas Home Farm."

Built by Mobile Broadband Network Limited, it's understood this is a replacement mast which will serve both EE and Three's customers.

An MBNL spokesperson has given the following statement: "The planning authority accepted the operators' proposals for a tree-styled mast to reduce the visual impact whilst ensuring critical mobile coverage will continue to be available to customers in the area, and accordingly the design was approved."

Have you come across an eyesore in your local area? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com