Andrew StunellAndrew Stunell MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Spokesperson for Communities and Local Government writes:

Every week, many people are shocked to find a mobile phone mast suddenly appearing behind the garden or next to a local school or hospital.  This has happened on many occasions near schools and homes in my constituency of Hazel Grove, upsetting and worrying residents.

Under the current ridiculous rules it is easier to get planning permission for a 15 metre mast than it is for a 5 metre conservatory.  Back in the early 1990s the Conservatives did a deal with the phone companies to cut planning controls for masts, allowing telecommunications companies to erect masts without going through the full planning procedure. All they have to do is put one A4 notice up near to the site, ignoring local residents’ concerns and disempowering local councillors.

A fuss about nothing?

Many people have genuine and legitimate concerns about the adverse effects on their health from mobile phone masts close to schools, hospitals and homes. The Stewart Report concluded that health issues had not yet been resolved and that a ‘precautionary approach’ should be used when considering the sitting of masts.  The government takes the view that “there's nothing to worry about - we know best”.   Their view is reinforced by Gordon Brown’s deal with the phone companies, who paid billions for their licences to the Treasury, and now want their pound of flesh!

Challenging the government

I decided to take action by challenging the government to change the law to bring mobile phone masts back under proper planning control.  My Bill would bring in the 'precautionary principle', giving extra safeguards for schools, homes, and medical facilities from the risk of excessive radiation.  Local authorities would be able to refuse planning permission on health grounds and industry would have to produce more evidence about the radiation emitted.

I have tried to get this Bill onto the statute books for the last two years, but each time it has been opposed by the Government.  Last month I presented it to Parliament agains, and it is due for its Second Reading Debate on the 29th June.

Join the campaign!

If you would like to see an end to the insensitive sitting of telecommunication masts, you can:

    * Write to your local MP asking them to support the Telecommunication Masts (Planning Control) Bill at Second Reading, and to support EDM 552, ‘Mobile Phone Masts’.
    * Write to Yvette Cooper MP, (the Minister in charge of Planning) in support of the Bill.
    * Ask your local councillor to propose a motion such as the one below to your local council.

[You can easily find and contact your MP and councillors via http://www.writetothem.com/]

This Council:

 - concerned at its present inability, through the planning process, to act in the best interests of local residents in relation to the proliferation of mobile telephone masts;

 -  welcomes the Private Member's Bill recently introduced by Andrew Stunell MP to give local Councils greater powers in this regard, and in particular

(a) to prohibit any development without planning permission
 
(b) to allow a local Council to have regard to health issues on a precautionary basis;

This council therefore resolves to write to all MPs serving the area of the council to urge them to sign EDM 552 and to support this Bill and attend its Second Reading on the 29th June 2007.