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Wiltshire:
United Kingdom Created: 5 Jul 2005
Trowbridge: PROTESTERS WIN FIGHT OVER MOBILE MAST

Mobile phone mast protesters are celebrating after persuading a mobile phone company to drop controversial plans to site a mast at a residential location
in Trowbridge. Mobile phone giant O2 has bowed to pressure from College Estate Residents' Association to find an alternative site for the mast,
which was set for the corner of College Road and Willow Grove.
Although planning permission had been granted for the project, residents kept up the pressure on O2 and a compromise has now been reached.
The telecommunications company has agreed not to place the equipment on the street corner, which is next to a block of flats for the elderly.
Instead, it is submitting a planning application to have the mast installed on the roof of the Edington Building at nearby Wiltshire College.
The change of heart has come after members of the residents' association and Cllr Sarah Content met company officials to express their concerns.
Residents complained the original proposed site was close to many homes and primary schools.
Association chairman Derek Adams said he was delighted at the outcome.
"I think everyone will be very pleased about this change of heart," he said.
"A lot of people found it very worrying to have a mast so close to home. I have to thank everyone who supported us, signed the petition and turned
up at a public meeting to discuss this."
The association is poised to formally back O2's alternative proposals at its next meeting.
Cllr Jeff Osborn, who represents the Trowbridge College ward on West Wiltshire District Council, said: "It is really good to see that a suitable
compromise seems to be close now. Everyone has behaved responsibly and they have listened to each other. I am delighted."
Cllr Content, who also represents Trowbridge College, said: "Telecommunication masts are becoming increasingly contentious due to confusion
and uncertainty about possible health risks from the Government and independent research groups."
Bath Chronicle. - 25 May 2005

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Marlborough Mast Appeal Allowed by Inspector

A very black day for the town of Marlborough in Wiltshire.
After many years of fighting two inappropriate 3g mast developments for Crown Castle in the centre of Marlborough's residential area, one man,
Inspector Ces Cunningham, has decided that they pose no risk to our health and that they will not detract from the Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (ANOB). Nor apparently, will it have any impact on the Listed Buildings and Conservation area that they will be built next to.
What is wrong with the democratic process in this country?
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Protesters force rethink

PRESSURE from electors has forced members of Pewsey Parish Council to reconsider its position over plans for a mobile phone mast on
the village soccer field.
More than 50 villagers attended the parish council meeting on Tuesday and their delight was obvious when the council agreed to think again.
The council owns the soccer ground between the High Street and Ball Road and in the past agreed to allow the Pewsey Vale Football Club
to sub-let the site following an approach by service provider O2, who wanted to put up a phone mast.
The deal would be worth £80,000 to the club over 20 years.
However, the parish council objected to initial plans for the 17 metre mast and it was turned down by Kennet District Council.
This week an appeal by O2 was dismissed by the planning inspectorate on the grounds that other possible sites around the village needed more evaluation.
But even before the appeal decision was announced, O2 had submitted plans for a taller mast on the site.
Objectors, fearing possible health risks to children playing near the mast, felt the parish council had let them down by agreeing that the site
could be sub-let.
On Tuesday there were allegations from some villagers that the councillors had failed to represent the views of the electorate.
Councillors agreed to re-debate whether the soccer club can sub-let to O2. Its planning committee will discuss the mast application on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the parish offices.
Wiltshire Gazette and Herald 21.07.05

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Pewsey
02 bombarding Wiltshire site

Phone mast campaigners gear up for second battle
CAMPAIGNERS against a mobile phone mast on a sports ground in Pewsey have been horrified to learn of a new application for an even taller
transmitter.
They are pinning their hopes of defeating the mast plans on the parish council that owns the soccer ground between Ball Road and the High Street.
On Tuesday the parish council will be discussing whether it should allow its tenant, Pewsey Vale FC, to let O2 put up a mast at the soccer ground.
The soccer club stands to gain £80,000 over 20 years if it allows the mast. However, objectors say the football club is only a tenant and that the parish council should have the final say.
They also argue that covenants restricting the use of the land to sport and recreation imposed when the parish council acquired the land in 1949
from the former Pewsey Rural District Council still apply.
A previous planning application for an O2 mast on the ground was refused by Kennet District Council and is subject of an appeal.
This week campaigners learned O2 has submitted a new planning application for slightly taller mast.
Petitions have been circulating in Pewsey urging the parish council to stick by the covenants. Campaigners are urging villagers to attend Tuesday's
parish council meeting, at 7.30pm in the Bouverie Hall, when O2's plan will be discussed.
Gazette and Herald Wiltshire 14.07.05
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Ilkley:
Why a whole lot of new masts are lining up? Because of Government interference and a council not considering people
Council bows to operators because of Appeal, and Phone mast approved despite objections

A controversial plan to erect a mobile phone mast within 170 metres of Great Bedwyn Primary School has been approved despite concerns about the children's health. Vodafone's telecommunications base station at Wansdyke Crossing in Little Bedwyn will be the fourth mast within 400 metres of the school.
The regulatory committee of Kennet District Council approved the application by seven votes to five after hearing that a recent Appeal Court
decision meant that the telecom giants would almost certainly win any appeal against refusal.
Gordon Stone, chairman of Great Bedwyn parish council, told the meeting last Thursday that there was grave concern because the site was so close to the school and there were already three masts within 400 metres.
He said that a report into the health dangers of mobile phone masts by a committee led by Sir William Stewart had recommended that masts
should not be erected within 400m of schools.
Coun Rosemary Cummins, the member for Bedwyn, not only stressed the health dangers, but was also incredulous that Vodafone was
planning to erect the mast so close to the Wansdyke.
She said the mast was likely to damage a national historic monument and that Vodafone had "completely disregarded the historic importance
of the site."
Mike Wilmott, Kennet's chief planning officer, said that the mast was not going to be placed on the Wansdyke itself but close to it.
He also said that, if the applicants were able to prove that the mast's emissions were within safety guidelines, the council would be laughed
out of court at any appeal.
Committee chairman Coun John Booth said that he would be more sympathetic to the protesters if children were banned from having mobiles,
which had far higher emissions than masts .
The council's legal officer Mike Rowan said that a recent Appeal Court decision had found in favour of masts and the council would lose with
substantial costs in the event of an appeal.
Marlborough Gazette and Herald. Date Published: Thursday 16 June 2005
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Trowbridge. Bath: 02 beaten off for now as PROTESTERS WIN FIGHT OVER MOBILE MAST

Mobile phone mast protesters are celebrating after persuading a mobile phone company to drop controversial plans to site a mast at a residential
location in Trowbridge. Mobile phone giant O2 has bowed to pressure from College Estate Residents' Association to find an alternative site for the mast,
which was set for the corner of College Road and Willow Grove.
Although planning permission had been granted for the project, residents kept up the pressure on O2 and a compromise has now been reached.
The telecommunications company has agreed not to place the equipment on the street corner, which is next to a block of flats for the elderly.
Instead, it is submitting a planning application to have the mast installed on the roof of the Edington Building at nearby Wiltshire College.
The change of heart has come after members of the residents' association and Cllr Sarah Content met company officials to express their concerns.
Residents complained the original proposed site was close to many homes and primary schools.
Association chairman Derek Adams said he was delighted at the outcome.
"I think everyone will be very pleased about this change of heart," he said.
"A lot of people found it very worrying to have a mast so close to home.
I have to thank everyone who supported us, signed the petition and turned up at a public meeting to discuss this."
The association is poised to formally back O2's alternative proposals at its next meeting.
Cllr Jeff Osborn, who represents the Trowbridge College ward on West Wiltshire District Council, said:
"It is really good to see that a suitable compromise seems to be close now. Everyone has behaved responsibly and they have listened to each other.
I am delighted."
Cllr Content, who also represents Trowbridge College, said: "Telecommunication masts are becoming increasingly contentious due to
confusion and uncertainty about possible health risks from the Government and independent research groups."
Bath Chronicle - 25 May 2005

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