Hythe protesters celebrate as Vodafone abandons plans to erect mast in the village

A BAND of protesters who stopped a telecoms giant from putting up a 26-metre mast in Hythe are celebrating after the plans were ditched.

Pensioner Maggie Lawless (77) was the first demonstrator to block contractors from Cornerstone when they arrived to erect the mast for Vodafone last month.

Seeing them arrive from her home, she rushed over to a green where the workers were to place it, sat in a chair and refused to move.

She was joined the next day by other residents, including neighbour Emily Kemish. Cornerstone workers finally packed up and left when the protestors refused to give up.

This week the residents were overjoyed to learn that Vodafone has now decided not to erect the mast at the site at all.

Emily said: “We are absolutely delighted, especially Maggie. It really proves that people power can work.”

Residents had been furious at the lack of consultation about the mast which was to be placed next to a main footpath into the village.

New Forest District Council had also not been notified about it and started investigating the matter after the residents alerted them to the work Cornerstone planned to carry out.

This week NFDC said that it had now been told by the company that the mast was no longer to be erected.

It said in a statement: “The council has received confirmation from the agent acting on behalf of Cornerstone/Vodafone confirming that they are not intending to proceed with any further works.

“If this changes, then they have provided an assurance that they will discuss the matter with NFDC in the first instance.”