«Latest  ‹Forward   News item: 3710  Back›  Oldest» 

Families' joy over new mast site victory
United Kingdom Created: 10 Jan 2009
Campaigners against plans for a controversial mobile phone which was to be built near homes without planning consent are celebrating today after it emerged an alternative site in the countryside had been found.

As reported last year phone giant O2 only won planning consent to build a mast on Reepham Road, Hellesdon, by default following a bureaucratic blunder by Broadland District Council.

The Evening News launched a campaign urging the phone giant to scrap plans for the mast which resulted in O2 agreeing to “reconsider” its decision to put a mast on Reepham Road - although they would still need an alternative site.

The company has since been in discussions with the district council about finding an alternative site and has today revealed it is considering putting the mast 500m further along Reepham Road on farmland where it will be away from houses.

The news has been welcomed by people who originally campaigned against the site being placed in a built-up area in Reepham Road.

Brian Simons, 69, who lives opposite where the mast would have been built in Reepham Road, said: “I'm glad they are looking at that site, which is surrounded by fields and would be ideal from our point of view.

“There's already a mast about 150m down Reepham Road at the junction with Gowing Road and another about half a mile away going towards Drayton at the Holly Road. There are three or four at that junction.

“I have always said that I have an O2phone and my reception at my house is fine, so why do they need another one?”

As reported, the original planning application for the mast opposite Mr Simons' house was rejected by Broadland councillors but a blunder meant notification of the decision did not reach all parties quickly enough, giving O2 the green light to go-ahead with the controversial mast.

The Evening News launched a 'Stop the Mast Campaign' in response to the decision and was inundated with support from families in the area, MPs and local councillors who all wanted O2 to go back on its decision.

The proposed mast would have been about 75m from a medical centre, 150m from Arden Grove Infant and Nursery School in Cottinghams Drive, about 50m from a nursing home and metres from homes.

An O2 spokeswoman said today: “The new site is one we have had planning consent for, for some considerable time, but which was previously rejected by us because of the problems associated with it.

“These included high power costs and build difficulties, which we are now trying to reduce. If we can go ahead with this site - and it may not be feasible - then we will.”

A spokesman for Broadland council confirmed that O2 had planning consent for the alternative site, and said it was still in talks with the phone company about finding other locations.
Click here to view the source article.
Source: Norwich Evening News, David Bale, 09 Jan 2009

«Latest  ‹Forward   News item: 3710  Back›  Oldest»