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East Lothian:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Fife:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
COUNCILLORS TO RULE ON MARKINCH MAST PLAN

A PROPOSED mobile mast to the north of Markinch looks set to be refused by councillors.
Vodafone Ltd., has asked Fife Council for permission to install a 14-metre high mast, three antennas and associated equipment cabins on the north side of the A92 junction with Stobcross Road.
The application was due to come before councillors at the Central Area Development Committee Meeting in the Town House, Kirkcaldy yesterday (Tuesday).
A report prepared by planner Stuart Wilson, and placed before the committee, said there are three planning considerations to be looked at - government guidance, the Development Plan and objections received.
Mr Wilson said although the proposed mast was higher than the existing 12-metre high street lamp post, it would not impact on the overall area.
And when looking at the Development Plan, Mr Wilson said the application site is located within a green corridor but as the mast would be installed within the road verge, it would not be detrimental to this.
The proposal is also in accordance with policies relating to design and visual impacts.
But the proposal was recommended for refusal on road safety grounds.
Fife Council's head of transportation and the Scottish Executive were consulted on the plans and while there was no objection from the local authority, the Executive rejected the application.
Its objection related to road safety as maintenance vehicles would have to be parked on the local unclassified road near to the A92 junction.
Mr Wilson said: "If approved, it will set an undesirable precedent for similar developments elsewhere."
31 August 2005. Fife Today
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North Glenrothes.
MORATORIUM ON MASTS LIFTED

AN OUTRIGHT ban on mobile 'phone masts being sited on council land has been lifted.
But Fife authority's decision has come too late for anti-mast campaigners in north Glenrothes.
They were angered when a 15-metre-high monopole was erected in Formonthills Road last year.
Irate residents living in the mast's shadow fought a long-running battle with mobile company O2 over the device's position - even trying to block engineers from replacing the mast after it had been taken away for repairs in May.
However, despite the council's vow to remove its moratorium, it appears the Formonthills "eyesore" - as many locals have dubbed it - is here to stay.
Ron Page, chairman of the North Glenrothes Community Council, said he hoped the authority's U-turn would spare other communities the grief north Glenrothes folk had gone through.

"We did ask O2 if they could review the situation and perhaps even put the mast across the road," he told The Gazette.
"They said it had been too expensive to move it and in any case, Fife Council had agreed to where it was sited.
"Hopefully, in the future, the options will increase."
Mr Page added: "These masts do not have to be exactly adjacent to anybody's house.
"It's clear that all the mobile companies and Fife Council's planning department have had their fingers burned by what's happened up at Formonthills Road.
"It's a beacon to future development."
Councillor John Cameron, spokesman for development and planning, admitted there had to be a balance between economic benefits to Fife and the need of the industry to put equipment in appropriate locations.
"We appreciate that many communities across Fife have concerns about the location of telecoms equipment, but with the moratorium lifted, we may now be able to avoid masts being located by roadsides or near houses and put these on more suitable sites at council property instead," he commented.
"If a council site is the best location for equipment to be placed, then officers and councillors will work with the current guidance and policies to make that determination."
The council will receive money from operators whose masts were located on council premises.
Indeed, before the moratorium came into place in 1999, the council received £35,504 in fees each year.
But Councillor Cameron added that this should not be a "determining factor" in any policy or decision made.
A detailed policy will now be developed to help councillors deal with future mast applications concerning council property.
It will aim to avoid issues of equipment being put on schools or other buildings involving residents, members of the public or council staff.
Christine May MSP has welcomed the news of the change of heart by Fife Council.
She said: "This decision has been badly needed, especially in Glenrothes, where the installation of masts has been very contentious.
"In many instances, council-owned land might have been a better location for masts, but, because of the ban these could not be considered.
"Now, all possible sites will be up for assessment, and it may be possible to find locations which are further from homes and less obtrusive but still effective."
Fife Today 29 June 2005
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Kirkcaldy.
Fury as Ice Arena mast gets nod
The Scottish Executive has overturned a Fife Council decision to refuse planning permission for a mobile phone mast on the roof of Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy.
The decision was today branded “a disgrace” by local councillor John Cameron, who vehemently opposed the application when it was considered last September.
He claimed the site was too close to a nursery and a special school for handicapped children, and would cause anxiety within these communities.
But today’s meeting of the Central Development Committee heard that applicants Hutchison 3G had appealed to the Executive, which ruled the Ice Arena was a suitable location.
The Executive reporter also concluded that issues of potential health effects were not a matter for the planning system and should be dealt with under alternative legislation.
A furious Councillor Cameron said, “It beggars belief that the reporter can overturn Fife Council’s decision.
“There is a nursery just 50 yards away from there, the Rosslyn special school is 50 yards away, and there are houses 25 yards away.
“I think it’s a disgrace, especially when there is an industrial estate 400 yards away which would be a more appropriate location.”
He added, “It’s absolutely ridiculous and I’m going to write to the Scottish Executive and MSPs and ask what planet this reporter comes from.”
Hutchison 3G plans to install three pole-mounted antennae and one transmission dish alongside antennae already on the roof.
Council officials had recommended the application be approved because of its limited size.
Fife Evening Telegraph and Post 07 June 2005
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Dundee.
North East Fife:
Mast plan gets go-ahead

Mobile phone company Vodafone will be able to put up a 14.5-metre mast in Strathmartine Road, Dundee, after the Scottish Executive overturned a decision by councillors.
Last year the development quality committee voted 21 to six to refuse planning permission for the mast, close to Cox Street, on the grounds that it was near an existing mast and would affect the environmental quality enjoyed by residents.
Council officials had recommended approval because Vodafone had looked at 18 alternative sites but had been forced to discard them because they were technically unsuitable or too close to houses.
Vodafone appealed to the Executive’s planning inquiry unit A company spokeswoman said the mast was needed to improve customer service and its height was not unusual for an urban area.
The Executive has now granted planning permission for the development, including an antenna, equipment housing and compound, to go ahead at 534b Strathmartine Road.
Meanwhile, Airwave O2 has lodged an application asking the council to remove a specific no TETRA condition imposed on a mast at Peacehill Farm, by Wormit, even although they have no plans to use the site.
In February, North East Fife Environment and Development Committee approved an application by Orange PCS for a 13-metre mobile phone (2G) mast. But, because of objections from locals and health concerns associated with the controversial TETRA system, councillors added a condition there should be no addition of such equipment at the site.
A spokesman from Airwave O2 defended TETRA and said they could not let the condition go without fighting against it.
He said; “We have no plans, or need for a mast or a site share. But we felt on principle we couldn’t let this blatant discrimination against TETRA go un-opposed and are asking for that condition to be removed.”
Arthur Jarrett, who has campaigned against TETRA masts and is a member of Scottish Action on TETRA, praised councillors for including the condition in the original application and urged concerned locals to object to Airwave’s attempt to have the ban removed.
He said; “I think it was the first time a local authority had done such a thing and councillors thought carefully about this condition.
“It can’t have been well received, especially as some of these companies have exercised an almost devious right to do what they like elsewhere.
“Airwave O2 simply don’t want any council development committee acting in the interest of communities and pro-actively blocking them out. They certainly don’t want Fife councillors to create such a dangerous precedent, which might sensibly be followed elsewhere.
“This is really the company and industry teaching councillors all over Britain a lesson, putting them in their place and making sure they stay there.
“Local people who have appreciated the effort made by North East Fife councillors, now require to act swiftly again to object to Airwave O2’s application to undo their protection.”
Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post. Created: 6 Jun 2005
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Fife
Mast plan condition challenged

A TELECOMMUNICATIONS company has accused Fife Council of discriminating against TETRA—the police communications system at the centre of controversy across the whole of the UK.
Airwave O2 has lodged an application asking the council to remove a specific no-TETRA condition imposed on a mast at Peacehill Farm, by Wormit, even although it has no plans to use the site.
In February, north-east Fife environment and development committee approved an application by Orange PCS for a 13-metre mobile phone (2G) mast.
But because of objections from locals and health concerns associated with the controversial TETRA system, councillors added a condition there should be no addition of such equipment at the site.
A spokesman from Airwave O2 defended TETRA and told The Courier it could not let the condition go without fighting against it.
He said, “We have no plans, or need for a mast or a site share.
“But we felt on a point of principle we couldn’t let this blatant discrimination against TETRA go unopposed and are asking for that condition to be removed.”
Arthur Jarrett, who has campaigned against TETRA masts and is a member of Scottish Action on TETRA, praised councillors for including the condition in the original application and urged concerned locals to object to Airwave’s attempt to have the ban removed.
He said, “I think it was the first time a local authority had done such a thing and councillors thought deliberately and carefully about this condition.
“It can’t have been well received, especially as some of these companies have exercised an almost devious right to do what they like elsewhere.
“Airwave O2 simply don’t want any council development committee acting in the interest of communities and pro-actively blocking them out. They certainly don’t want Fife councillors to create such a dangerous precedent, which might sensibly be followed elsewhere.
“This is really the company and industry teaching a lesson to the councillors all over Britain, putting councillors in their places and making sure they stay there.
By Cara Dodson. 30-05-05
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Forfarshire:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Inverness-shire:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Kincardineshire:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Kinross-shire
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Kirkcudbrightshire:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Lanarkshire:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Cumbernauld: Phone mast protesters call meeting

THE issue of installing phone masts in residential areas in Cumbernauld is to be debated at a meeting at the Link Community Centre - on the same day that
an official visit will be made to a site in Abronhill to consider a plan to erect a mast on it.
Called by the Cumbernauld Mast Relocation Group, the meeting, next Tuesday, July 26 at 7.30pm, is aiming to "help co-ordinate campaigning against the
mast and to address problems in the planning process when the masts are proposed in particular locations."
Group spokesperson Barbara Harvey said: "Personal experience of campaigning against the building of a mast in my area has made me acutely aware of
some of the health concerns regarding these masts. We are hoping to make people aware of this and to share experiences with others in how to campaign
in their communities to successfully object to the siting of a mast. We also have concerns about the planning process which seems to favour the telecommunications companies."
The group is planning a petition, which will be presented to the Scottish Parliament. Barbara added: "We hope people who are concerned about this issue will come along to build a co-ordinated and effective campaign in our town."
An application to build a mast at McCashin's garage in Abronhill was originally vetoed by NLC but an appeal has since been lodged.
Cumbernauld Today. 20 July 2005
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FERNHILL. South Lanarkshire:
Anger at mast plan near two schools

FERNHILL residents are outraged at a proposal to site a mobile phone mast near to Cathkin Primary and Fernhill private school
One concerned resident, who does not want to be identified, said that the plan had angered many in the community, especially as the mast would be so close to schools.
At this stage South Lanarkshire Council has received a pre-planning application from the T-Mobile group which only intimates an interest in the site.
However, if T-Mobile choose to take their plans further and they are approved then the mast would go up on Burnside Road not far from Cathkin Primary School, Fernhill School, and a new housing development.
Norman Boyd, chair of Rutherglen Community Council, said that they were firmly opposed to plans for more masts.
He said: “The community council’s view is that far too many of these masts are going up. We are doubtful about the radiation factors but we cannot object on these grounds.
“There’s a rule in it somewhere that we can’t object on health and radiation grounds. The only objection that we could have is that it’s near a school or old folks’ home.
“We are not scared that one mast does damage but of the number of masts that are going up around Rutherglen.”
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council confirmed that they had received paperwork from T-Mobile.
The spokesperson said: “A pre-application notification from agents acting on behalf of T-Mobile has been received for a mast on Burnside Road. This is common practice and alerts local authorities to areas where telecommunications companies are considering applying for planning permission.
“Should the company decide to proceed we would expect to receive a full planning application in due course.”
By Sharon McHendry
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East Kilbride.
T-Mobile beaten by people power

Mobile phone giants have put new mast plans on hold
PROTESTERS in East Kilbride have rung up a victory against mobile phone giants T-Mobile.
The News can reveal the German company has ‘put on hold’ plans to erect a 50 foot phone mast on Mossneuk Road.
The shock decision comes after nearby residents and Hairmyres councillor David Watson launched petitions against the controversial plans.
More than 300 people put their names to the protest amid fears that the masts are a health hazard.
And locals were delighted this week when T-Mobile announced they are now looking for a more suitable location.
The unlikely victory will also give hope to fellow protesters in Calderwood and Stewartfield who are battling against similar plans for their area.
Councillor Watson said: “This is definitely a victory of sorts as T-Mobile are now looking for a more suitable, alternative site.
“They have said the plans are ‘on-hold’ because they have to be very careful about how they word such things.
“If they said they were scrapped then that would perhaps set a precedent and the company obviously wouldn’t want that.
“But this has shown that if a community sticks together and shows resolve then things can be done.
“We voiced a lot of concerns about this proposal and in fairness to T-Mobile, they took these on board.
“If the company did decide to come back to this site or another one in my ward then I would be looking for re-assurances that they would carry
out a full public consultation and also attend a public meeting.”
Residents living near Barrie Road in Calderwood and Fairfield Place in Stewartfield will now be looking to give T-Mobile another bloody nose
after they announced plans to build masts near them.
A spokesperson for T-Mobile confirmed the company were looking at alternatives to Mossneuk Road. He said: “After pre-planning consultation
we have re-evaluated the site and are looking at other options.
“We have looked at the various feedback and want to find the best alternative for both the company and the communities we serve.”
The spokesperson added that no decision had been made yet on the proposed sites at Calderwood and Stewartfield as consultation was still ongoing.
By David Wynn. Lanarkshire.co.uk .Created: 9 Jun 2005

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Cambuslang
T-Mobile 's lies about health risks

Telecom giant wins mobile mast bid
A telecom giant has won permission to put a controversial mobile phone mast inside a Cambuslang bell tower.
T Mobile has been given the green light to install a mast above the Greencross Care Centre in Tabernacle Road.
The firm insisted the mast, inside the 18-metre tower of the B-listed former public school, will be safe after people said it was close to a school.

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CAMBUSLANG.
Lanarkshire: Mast do better!

CAMBUSLANG residents are opposing a plan to erect a new mobile phone mast - which will be hidden inside a bowling club’s flagpole.
Houses in Grenville and Stewarton Drives, beside Kirkhill Bowling Club, have been leafleted over the past few days informing them of T Mobile’s plans for the area.
Already, a petition against the mast has been handed to the bowling club, with about 100 signatures gathered in a very short time.
Protestors have also written to Members of the Scottish Parliament, as well as local MP Tommy McAvoy, and intend to e-mail councillors on South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee before they meet to decide on the issue next month.
A concerned Stewarton Drive resident said: “Because of an application to build a 3G mobile phone mast within 50 metres of my home, I sought support from my neighbours to oppose the installation.
“These neighbours also live dangerously close to the mast. I was amazed at the universal fear and concern expressed on the health risks.
“I gained almost 100 signatures in a very short time.
“The latest National Radiological Protection Board report acknowledges that more research is required and that there is growing evidence of biological effects from the rays emitted by these masts.
“The new 3G masts have been linked to negative effects on brain function. The report acknowledges that a minority of the general population may be ‘hypersensitive’ to the energy beams from the masts.”
The protestor pointed to quotes from Michael Clarke, radiation expert at the Health Protection Agency (NRPB).
Mr Clarke said: "We feel we should discourage prolonged use of mobile phones. Our view is that it is sensible to take a precautionary approach to mobile use, especially in the very young.”
The Stewarton Drive resident continued: “The Government recommends children less than eight should use mobile phones only for emergencies.
“The mast, which is at a similar height to the bedrooms of the surrounding houses, will expose the occupants to beams 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“I estimate that 50 per cent of those living within 100 metres of the mast have children of pre-school or primary school age - the age group that NRPB state are most at risk.
“T Mobile cannot tell me what other sites they have assessed before selecting this site in the middle of a residential area.
“There are alternative sites more remote from houses where the mast could be placed but they probably incur extra expense for T Mobile.”
To examine peoples’ concerns about mobile phone masts, the Government set up the Stewart Committee which reported in 2000.
The protestor continued: “This proposed mast does not have to be built, the risks, however small, do not have to be introduced to this residential area.
“As the Stewart Committee suggested, a precautionary approach should be adopted. We would suggest that prudent avoidance would be a better approach in our residential area.
“The health and well being of those who play at Kirkhill Bowling Club will also be put at risk, as they also will be subjected to the energy beams from the proposed mast.
“High-spirited youths have been known to trespass on the bowling green and it is believed that they flew underwear on the flagpole.
“A proper fence will be required round the flagpole to prevent youths shinning up the flagpole and getting fried.
“The field behind Grenville Drive or the pathway across the field at the top of West Coats Road seem more appropriate locations.“
By Kenny Smith. Lanarkshire. Created: 9 Jun 2005
Anyone looking for more information on the protests should e-mail mash_the_mast@yahoo.co.uk.
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Cumber-nauld
People Power is the driving force
PEOPLE'S VICTORY

670 objectors fight off plan for Condorrat phone mast
PEOPLE Power has triumphed inCumber-nau ld following a special meeting last week - after North Lanarkshire Council planners got more than they
bargained for when objections flooded in to the construction of a phone mast at the Condorrat Ring Road.
The 15ft mast which had been proposed by mobile phone giants T Mobile was to be situated to the west of Avonhead Gardens - in a move which did
not pass muster with residents who already have two similar masts in their midst.
One mast already exists at the Ring Road - and another in Lomond Court is set to be 'enhanced' with more powerful antennae under special planning
guidelines which cannot be opposed by the public.
The issue was first aired at a planning meeting in April - where it swiftly became apparent that the community felt ill at ease with the as-yet inconclusive
evidence that the masts represent a radioactive risk with their emissions. The fact that three schools - Baird Memorial, St Helen's and Condorrat Primaries -
lay within a very close proximity to the mast was a cause of alarm to parents - many of whom signed a petition which attracted 670 signatures.
Objections were also received from Cumbernauld and Kilsyth MSP Cathie Craigie, Condorrat Community Council plus local councillor Gerry McElroy who insisted planners make a site visit to Condorrat and hold an individual hearing on the matter.
That took place on Friday when the objectors told planners in no uncertain terms why they could not support another mast in their community.
And the result has been the cause of much jubilation in Condorrat.
Councillor McElroy said: "We had our day in court - and we are absolutely delighted at the outcome. We felt that this was just a pole too far and I am glad that the planning and environment committee listened to our concerns."
Bobby Johnston of the community council added: "With the other masts, this was turning into a cluster. With these three schools nearby, it is not a risk we were willing to take."
Cumbernaud Today. By CLARE GRANT. 06 July 2005

Mid Lothian:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

Moray:
Scotland Created: 17 Jul 2005
Coming soon.

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