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Masts will not be built after alleged threats
Controversial plans to build two mobile phone masts at Willingdon Golf Club have been scrapped after threats were allegedly made to a member of the club's board.
Vodafone and T-Mobile had both been given permission to put up 15-metre high masts on the course despite objections from hundreds of local residents.
It is believed the club would have received around 12,000 from the deal.
But it has now abandoned the plans, which have taken more than a year to come to fruition, after what it called 'serious and direct threats to individuals and property'.
However, residents are claiming victory saying the club had come to the right decision in the face of public pressure and the threat of anti-mast members leaving the club.
In a letter sent out to club members and passed on to the Herald yesterday, the club admitted some members living in Ratton indicated they would leave the club if the mast went ahead, removing 'the financial benefit the mast was intended to bring'.
But it largely blamed the decision by Old Ratton Residents Association (ORRA) to circulate to residents the home addresses and telephone numbers of the club's directors.
The letter said, "Resulting from this has been a number of anonymous and very serious personal threats to a member of the board of this club and his family.
"In addition to this we have been advised by another member that they are aware of other serious threats of damage to our course and club property made by residents.
"As a result of these serious and direct threats to individuals and property together with the potential loss of income from members leaving the club the board have, with regret, decided we will not now proceed with the installation of either of the mast sites on our course."
That decision has delighted anti-mast campaigners, including ORRA elected member Iain Brogden, who said the club should be congratulated for backing down.
He said, "We are overjoyed and greatly relieved.
"I think the club have listened to local residents and come to the right decision.
"They would have been shooting themselves in the foot if they had gone ahead against all the immense pressure from local residents."
Mr Brogden admitted the ORRA had circulated directors' names and addresses, which are in the public domain, to 'assist democracy' after residents said they were unsure who they should write to to express opposition to the proposals.
He said he was not aware of any ORRA members making threats to the club's property or directors.
Willingdon Golf Club refused to comment further saying it believed the matter to be closed.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 04 February 2012
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