A PHONE mast which residents successfully petitioned to block has been built regardless – thanks to bungling council officers.

People living in the Parklands Way and Alpine Grove area of Meadowhead, Blackburn, were told in April 2010 they had stopped Vodafone/02’s attempt to install 45-feet-high telecom equipment in Parklands Way.

They won on the grounds there was already one mast within close proximity of the proposed site, the scale and size of the equipment, and the area being densely populated.

But 10 months later, residents were ‘horrified’ to see work begin on the site after it was revealed that Blackburn with Darwen Council had not dealt with the application in accordance with regulations.

Campaigner Loretta Davis, of Alpine Way, said: “You would have thought that an important department such as the planning division would be constantly updating legal technicalities and changes to legal procedures.”

The council’s planning office was required to send two letters to Vodafone/02 - one saying the application was being considered, and another with the decision.

Only the decision notification was sent, and the phone companies won the case against the council.

Brian Bailey, director of regeneration for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “I do understand the concerns raised but unfortunately our hands our tied due to the legal issues raised in this case."