Unpopular plans for a phone mast - previously thrown out by Solihull Council after hundreds of objections - have now been approved on appeal.
The Planning Inspectorate has agreed that the 15 metre structure can be erected near to The Lodge pub, in Yardley Wood Road, Shirley, despite more than 700 residents having previously objected to the application.
In December last year, the council's planning committee had voted unanimously to reject the proposals, arguing the mast and cabinets would clutter the verge and harm the character of the area.
But there was dismay from campaigners this week, following the news that the local authority's decision had been overturned.
Cllr Tim Hodgson (Green, Shirley West) had tweeted his disappointment that the "monstrous" application had received permission.
"[It is a] crazy place for a mast outside a pub, near to houses, a school, nursery and care home," he said.
Last year, the case had also been raised in the House of Commons by Solihull MP Julian Knight.
In a written decision, Planning Inspector Andrew Owen said: "Although the pole would contrast with its immediate surroundings in terms of its height, in all other aspects of its appearance it would not be incongruous.
"Consequently I consider the harm to the character and appearance of the area resulting from the development as a whole would be no greater than moderate."
He also addressed anxiety about the application's proximity to residents' homes and Peterbrook Primary School.
"Whilst I understand these fears, and I have treated local concerns as material considerations, none of the representations provide a sufficient basis to demonstrate that this proposal would be harmful to human health."
CTIL, which manages the network on behalf of telecom giants Vodafone and Telefonica, had previously argued that there was a need to improve phone coverage in the Solihull area.
In a statement earlier this year, they said the site in question had been identified as "the best option locally."
Mr Owen's report confirmed that 22 alternative locations had been considered by the applicant.
