People living close to the Broadfield Arms on Leyland Lane, including the landlord Sandra Chester, were furious that Vodafone had applied to put up the communications mast in front of the pub.

However, after the group of disgruntled homeowners campaigned against the plans and wrote letters of objection to the council, South Ribble planning officers turned down the scheme.

Mrs Chester said: "We've received a letter from the council informing us of their decision.

"Everybody is ecstatic that the council are not allowing the mast to be put up and that the application has been rejected.

"Vodafone could appeal - but we would fight it all over again.

"We now have enough people on board, more than 100, to have a strong weight of feeling against it.

"For this application we sent in a large petition arguing that it would impact on people locally, the environment and it would have been an eyesore for the neighbours.
"It is a good sign that our concerns were listened to. It's fantastic it is now not going ahead."

Chairman of South Ribble Borough Council's planning committee, Coun Jon Hesketh, said: "The application was refused because erecting the proposed monopole in front of the Broadfield Arms would have had a negative effect on the living conditions of the residents on the opposite side of Leyland Lane and residents of the pub, whose living quarters are directly above the premises.

"In addition, the appearance of the mast, which would have measured up to 13.4 metres in height, would have detracted from the street scene along Leyland Lane, especially on the frontage of the Broadfield Arms."

A spokesman for Vodafone said: "Vodafone have a requirement to improve the 3G coverage for our customers and to achieve this we need to install a new base station.

"We are disappointed that the local authority refused our application and we will review the decision letter of the planning authority and our options in the area before deciding whether to appeal the refusal. We have six months to appeal the refusal."

• For the full story see this week's Leyland Guardian - out now