Financial trader's plan for mast higher than the Shard suffers setback

A financial trading firm's plan to make millions by building a mast higher than the Shard in rural Kent has suffered a setback after its proposals were challenged by Dover council. Vigilant Global is one of two companies hoping to build a communications mast designed to boost profits by shaving milliseconds off the time it takes to beam information to European markets. But the council questioned the tactics used by the firm in the planning process and cast doubt on whether local people would see the benefits that Vigilant says they will. In a 20-page document, council officials said Vigilant had provided "only scant detail of the purpose of the mast", instead choosing to focus on the potential benefits to the local community. "Of primary concern is the lack of detail of the main function and purpose of the mast," the council said, adding that the plan "appeared to relate to improvements in the financial field".