A RESIDENTS' campaign to stop communications company One2One placing a phone mast at a site of historic and conservational interest in Horrabridge has succeeded.
'We are delighted,' said campaigner Ian Robinson, 'but I feel angry at One2One for their arrogance in coming back when they knew there was opposition locally.'
A previous proposal for a phone mast in Horrabridge was submitted then withdrawn by One2One in November 2000.
Mr Robinson said the DNPA's refusal represented 'a victory for Horrabridge'. A petition with 90 signatures compiled at Yelverton Stores, and many letters of objection, from villagers as well as conservation agencies, such as the Council for the Protection of Rural England and Dartmoor Preservation Association were received.
The Dartmoor Preservation Association objected to the proposal on the grounds of no proven need for the mast, that it would be intrusive, would disturb a badger set and that the area is used for insect feeding by bats. The DPA also claimed the applicant's archaeological report showed little understanding of local and industrial archaeology.
'Horrabridge is on the fringe of the national park but just as important as the rest of the park and shouldn't be forgotten about. We are still in the national park,' said Mr Robinson.
One2One had wanted to site the 15-metre telecommunications mast at West Wheal Robert, an area of high land near Horrabridge, but opposition centred on the detrimental impact on the site of the 19th century Wheal Robert mine, to the appearance of part of the national park and to the nearby badger population.
The communication company said the installation would be necessary to overcome the poor mobile phone coverage around Horrabridge and the site's proximity to existing trees would ensure it was not detrimental to the character and appearance of the area.
The decision to refuse the application was taken at Dartmoor National Park Authority's planning committee on Friday, February 1.