Morley’s Christmas Lights man John Roe faces pulling plug on yearly display after complaints about radio mast

THE man behind Morley’s best Christmas lights may be forced to take down his radio mast after a resident complained.

John Roe, who has put up annual Christmas light displays for more than 20 years, has been forced to put in a retrospective planning approval for a 20.1m radio mast on Marriot Way.

The amateur radio enthusiast put in the mast eight years ago.

Bayswater City council moved to defer the item after it received counter petitions in support and opposition for the application.

One petition had 27 signatures in opposition, which Mr Roe said was “illegal” as none of the residents lived on Marriot Way.

A second petition was received in support of the pole, signed by eight residents who live on the street, and stated there was no visual impact to the streetscape.

A separate letter said there were no health concerns caused by the radio mast, no impact on house prices in Morley and the pole was not as solid as the existing power poles on the street.

In the deferred report, a City officer recommended to refuse the retrospective application as the development did not comply with town planning scheme and had an “undue impact on the amenity”.

It also stated a number of unauthorised freestanding support columns, two light towers and a flagpole were not included in the current application, which was an ongoing compliancy issue.

Some 7500 people visited the lights display last year, which featured about 120,000 lights.