Proposed
Private Members Bill would allow residents greater say over controversial
phone masts
Councillor
Peter Thompson, Leader of Hounslow's Conservative Group, welcomed a proposed
new law to give Hounslow Council a stronger say on the location of mobile
phone masts. A Private Members Bill, by Conservative MP Richard Spring,
is working it's way through the House of Commons. If the Bill was
passed, it would give greater powers to local authorities in England and
Wales to reject inappropriate applications for mobile phone masts, and
place the onus on Telecommunication companies to prove that there is an
essential need for controversial masts.
Cllr Thompson explained, "In light of the recent controversy about
the masts on Chiswick Police Station I do hope that this bill becomes
law. There is a great deal of concern across Hounslow about the erection
of mobile phone masts. We all want to be able to use mobile phones, but
that doesn't mean we should allow the dumping of poorly-sited mobile phone
masts in Hounslow on the cheap. There are also concerns about
health and this is why I welcome these proposals, which would give local
people a greater voice to stop the invasion of badly-placed masts.”
For
this legislation to become law - it will need the support of the Government
and Cllr Thompson is calling on Ann Keen to support this legislation
Richard Spring MP's Telecommunications Masts Bill received its Second
Reading in the House of Commons on Friday 5 March 2004 but was unfortunately
objected and therefore will be read a second time on Friday 20 May. As
a Private Member's Bill, it will be dependent on Government support to
become law.
The Government-commissioned Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones
('the
Stewart Report') in 2000 recommended a precautionary principle with regards
mobile phone mast siting. It reported that children might be especially
vulnerable to any adverse effects of radiation yet Government-issued Planning
Policy Guidance in England on mobile phone masts prevents councils objecting
to mobile phone masts purely on health grounds.
March 11, 2004
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