THE erection of a mobile phone mast in Tavistock's Down Road this week sparked anger from residents — and a stinging attack on West Devon Borough Council officers by some of its elected members.
The Vodafone mast and associated equipment was erected in the road during the Christmas period.
Planning consent was granted without anyone in the area being informed of the application.
Former magistrate and Down Road resident Pat Alexander was furious over the appearance of the mast.
She said: 'Adjacent property owners were not informed and no public notices were displayed.'
Miss Alexander said democracy was being ignored — she said if the borough's planning department could deal with this application without consulting residents, other controversial applications could be 'pushed through' in a similar manner.
Senior councillor Chris Jenkins, chairman of the borough's environment committee and ward member for Tavistock South, said he had received many phone calls and e-mails from people living in Down Road.
Cllr Jenkins said: 'It appears the planning department failed to issue any notification to residents of the application from Vodafone. As a result, elected councillors who visited the site were told there were no objections, hence the application went ahead.
'This is not the first failure by West Devon's planning department and it puts elected councillors in a highly embarrassing situation, particularly their relationship with constituents.
'West Devon charges the highest rates in the South West and officers earn the highest salaries in West Devon — quite frankly, I and many other councillors are fed up with apologising to residents for their failure to deliver a satisfactory service.'
The planning department's mistake follows a similar incident last year, in which more than 100 consultees were not informed of an appeal by Wimpey to increase the number of new homes on The Manor estate from 29 to 42. They thus missed the opportunity to re-iterate their objections. Wimpey won the appeal.
Cllr Jenkins added: 'Sadly, if the residents of Down Road and Manor Estate receive any financial recompense from the council it will simply mean less money in the budget to deliver services. As 64% of the £8.4-million council budget goes on staff salaries and pensions, that doesn't leave much!'
Tavistock South ward member Cllr Ted Sherrell said: 'I agree with Cllr Jenkins. It is vital that everyone living in reasonable proximity to a property, or area, for which a planning application has been submitted, is informed of the application. Also, all relevant notices must be displayed.
'To do less is to deny people their democratic rights.
'These all too frequent errors by the borough's planning department are eroding the trust the community places in local planning officers and elected councillors.'
A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council confirmed that the mast was given planning approval under delegated powers.
She said: 'A notice was not posted and the three adjacent properties were not informed.
'It was a mistake and we hold our hands up — we made an error. We apologise profusely to those affected and we have written to those people today.'