MEETING on Wednesday as the Journal was going to press members of Bury Metro's planning control sub-committee were being recommended to refuse planning permission for a revolutionary, six-sector antenna to be housed in the tower of Stand Church at Whitefield. If the project does eventually go ahead the proposal from a telecommunications company is to erect six antennae on the tower's four mini spires. This would mean a lot of work inside the tower, including the laying of steel floors. Planners say the antennae would be about 1,900 mm long and probably 200 mm wide. They would be fixed by brackets to the stonework and be visible from the ground.

They would affect the appearance of the building, and their associated internal works would be more damaging to its fabric and could, if it went ahead, affect its 'listing'.

All Saints Church is a Grade 1 listed building, but planning consent, say the planners, is 'not relevant' because it is replaced by an Ecclesiastical Exemption Order which is subject to scrutiny by the Church of England.

Separate from the planning office's recommendation for refusal, there have been several other objectors to the idea. Prestwich Residents Association, the Georgian Group, and an objector from St. Mary's Road object to the effect on the church's external appearance.

They also object to the possible change in the church's character, which is an important landmark.

This is supported by yet another objector who says: "If we accept this proposal with its symbolic triumph of the personal mobile phone over human spirituality then perhaps society deserves some of the mayhem and carnage which we increasingly see as we approach the millennium."

Adding to that, an objector from St. Mary's Road says in effect that the church was 'listed' to preserve it; to keep it as it looks, and has looked since it was built.

The current proposals would fundamentally alter this concept.

Bury's planners are still awaiting responses on the proposals from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and from English Heritage.

The planners say that for three reasons the proposed development would be detrimental to the building's character and appearance.

The antennae will affect its architectural integrity; there would be an adverse effect on the fabric; and unsympathetic alterations would cause a fundamental change to its character

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