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| Bid to curb phone mast menace | |
| United Kingdom | Created: 12 Oct 2007 |
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MPs are being asked to support a bid by a district council to protect residents from the proliferation of mobile phone masts. North Hertfordshire District Council intends to write to Oliver Heald, MP for Hertfordshire North East, and Peter Lilley, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, to request active support in the council's call for greater powers when it comes to considering planning applications to erect telecommunication masts. In particular, the council wants to be able to prohibit the development of any phone masts without planning permission - currently there is a series of variables which determine whether a mast needs planning permission, such as height, prominence and size in relation to height. The council also wants to be able to ensure that, wherever possible, telephone masts be constructed on the basis that they can be shared between operators. John Booth, NHDC councillor for Letchworth South East, said: "There is an obligation for mobile phone companies to share masts where possible, but they can technically put up a mast which is very difficult to share and you can't complain that they shouldn't do it that way. That has happened in Letchworth, certainly." He added: "There are only a limited number of ways for the council to object [to an application], and it is very difficult. If [a mobile phone company] says that, technically, a mast has to be somewhere, it is very difficult to say 'no, we shouldn't put it there.'" Cllr Booth explained that, if the council had experts to assess existing masts and their coverage, it would be more able to challenge the necessity of certain planning applications. But Cllr Booth said: "Realistically a local council is not going to have those experts and can't afford to employ someone. "We want MPs to support a broader set of reasons to oppose planning permission, to give greater control to local councils, and to give flexibility for planning committees to object and compel the phone companies to change." Mr Heald said: "This is an issue I have raised in the House of Commons in the past. I strongly support the council's proposal and have already written to ministers raising it again." Mr Lilley said: "I want to increase the powers of local authorities but when I published a Bill it was voted on and then defeated. "It is, however, something I'm keen to put forward again in the future. |
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| Source: Comet 24, 11 Oct 2007 | |
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