Marlborough and the mast...
Conservative
Party Press Release
25
Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0DL
Tel
(Press): 020 7984 8121
Tel
(Broadcast Desk): 020 7984 8100
Fax:
020 7984 8272
Tuesday 17 August 2004
Conservatives will give local people powers to tackle unwanted phone masts
The Conservatives would give local people the final say over the location of mobile phone masts, under plans to tackle cheap and poorly designed masts blighting communities across the country.
Representing
the biggest changes in planning regulations since the 1984 Telecommunications
Act, the Conservatives would ensure all masts require full planning permission,
that health concerns are taken into account, and visual intrusion is reduced.
Today’s
policies come amid warnings that under 3G technology, there could be an
estimated 100,000 more masts being sited across the country, in addition to new
‘Tetra’ and Network Rail masts.
Launching
a new Conservative campaign, You decide where they go, Caroline Spelman
MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Local & Devolved Government Affairs, said:
“The
erection of poorly-located masts is causing considerable disquiet in many parts
of the country. There is a presumption in favour of development inherent in the
current planning system, which overrides local, environmental and safety
concerns.”
Under the new five
point plan:
There would be a single process for deciding all masts, including those on Network Rail or church property, Tetra masts, as well as small antennas being covertly installed in street furniture or signs.
Councils would be allowed to take health concerns into account such as near homes, hospitals and schools. Current national planning guidance prohibits this.
Mast operators would be required to demonstrate that any development does not result in unacceptable damage to visual amenity or harm environmentally sensitive features.
Councils would be asked to draw up their own supplementary planning guidance to ensure consistency and clarity for operators and residents, and ensure a plan-led approach to future development.
Mrs Spelman added:
“Conservatives
will champion the interests of local residents and address the feelings of
powerlessness and frustration experienced living under the threat of badly sited
masts. Local councillors, answerable to local residents via the ballot box,
should have the final say on where they go.
“During
the Birmingham Hodge Hill election, Labour pledged in their leaflets that they
would ‘do everything we can to ensure that there are no more phone masts near
schools and hospitals’. Yet the Labour Government have failed to support
Private Members Bills in Parliament or change planning laws to back up those
pledges. Ahead of the general election, we will ensure that Labour will pay for
their dishonesty - at the ballot box.”
ENDS
Notes to
Editors
(1)
‘3G’ masts are those required to support new ‘3rd generation’ mobile
phone technology such as video-calling. ‘Tetra’ masts are part of a new
police secure communications system, but have attracted particular controversy
because of concerns about the impact of their electro-magnetic radiation on
human health.
(2) The policy
document launched today is available at:
http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/masts-policydocument.pdf
(3) A high
resolution (300 dpi) poster is available at:
http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/mastposter-jpeg.jpg
(JPEG)
http://www.conservatives.com/pdf/mastposter-pdf.pdf
(PDF)
Promoted by Gavin Barwell on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 25 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0DL. Printed by the Conservative Party.
