ANGRY residents have called a public meeting in a bid to stop erection of a mobile phone mast on land at Garndolbenmaen.

Snowdonia National Park Authority planners approved the scheme by Vodafone to build a 15 metre-high mast on land at Pen y Gaer farm, Mynydd Glas, but the Friends of Garn group has railed against the decision which they say is “bitterly disappointing” and would “wreck the landscape of the village”.

The group has called a public meeting to try and stop the development. The chair of the meeting will be Carol Morris.

Ms Morris said: “We are not objecting to a mast, as we are in dire need for better coverage, but we are to the site and type of mast proposed.

“Several objections have been placed but they have all been rejected.

“We are objecting to a tower being constructed in the wrong location.

“If they located the much-needed mast at the Welsh Water Board site, it would not need to be taller than 20 feet because of its elevated position and it is much more accessible and would service the village better and the valley floor behind.

“This tower will be visible from the whole of Dwyfor, parts of Anglesey, and even Ireland on a clear day.

“This village of ours has lost its shop, post office and recently our pub and now Vodafone wants to destroy our landscape.”

Neither Snowdonia National Park Authority nor Dolbenmaen Community Council objected to the plans, which were approved in August.

Natural Resources Wales said that “given the localised and minor effect upon the character and qualities of Snowdonia National Park, we consider the proposal could be accommodated here and therefore do not object to the proposal”.

In a response to complaints from the Friends of Garn, Aled Lloyd, the head of development at Snowdonia National Park Authority, said that the “nature and scale” of the application is “compatible with the capacity and character of the site and its locality”.

“This site can accommodate the 15-metre telecommunications mast without significant impact on the landscape.”

Mr Lloyd added that there were “no deficiencies in the planning process” in approving the scheme.

Vodafone, in its application, said that the height of the mast “is the lowest required to ensure that both the antennas and the dishes are clear of the immediately adjacent 12 metre-­tall trees”.

The company added that “the dimensions of the proposed mast itself are the thinnest available” and “it is considered that the scheme takes a form which is sympathetic within the context of its immediate environment”.

The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, 29 November, in Garndolbenmaen village hall at 7pm.