Plans for a gigantic mobile phone mast have been approved by West Lothian Council - after developers warned refusal would simply see them build an even bigger one.

The planned new telecoms mast in Uphall will upgrade facilities which have already been in place for 20 years, it was claimed.

And the application for a 56ft (17m) - five storey high - mast was a concession, councillors heard this week - with the industry standard now 74ft (22.5m).

Councillors accepted the argument but bridled at the “insulting” tone of the applicants’ response - which said that if refused they would simply build a taller mast under permitted development rights.

An agent for Dalcour MacLaren argued that the 17m mast was a concession because the site in East Main Street, Uphall, is a conservation area.

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