SEVERAL worried parents had confirmed they would take their children away from Widecombe Primary School if an appeal for a tetra mast at Coombe was successful, Richard Casey told a public inquiry last week.

Mr Casey, a resident of Widecombe for 37 years, said Airwave – it is appealing against Dartmoor Naional park Authority's refusal to allow it to erect an mast to improve emergency services communications – had failed to demonstrate the need and there had been irregularities in the planning process.

There had also been continuing sustained vocal objections, he stated.

Darren Sibley, of Bowden Farm, pointed out that the correct drawings had not been received, drawings had been substituted and revised and 'all under an extremely hazy umbrella of ineptitude'.

'There is a rising tide of suspicion concerning tetra usage and exposure. While there is still a doubt over its long term use we would request a preventative approach, not just for ourselves but also for our precious national park landscape,' he said.

In rebuttal, Glenn Holt, engineer for Airwave Solutions, said the application had been undertaken with the utmost respect to the national park.

'It must be remembered that the DNPA officers and the authority's site inspection panel recommended approval,' he said.

Mr Sibley contended it would be an eyesore no matter how the mast was dressed up. 'It would appear we do not really need it, so why is it being forced upon us?' he asked.

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