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Liberal Democrats on Kent County CouncilThe Official Opposition on Kent County Council |
Call for Kent to Join Phone Mast Group
June 18, 2002 12:00 AM
Trudy Dean, Leader of Kent County Council's Liberal Democrat Group, has called on Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Leader of the Council, to pledge his support for a new national group lobbying on mobile phone masts.
A London Borough of Harrow questionnaire to all planning authorities, revealed strong support for setting up a national authority network. The network aims to lobby government for improvements to planning legislation, and to share information and experience of mast and other telecommunications planning applications, to assist Councillors, officers and campaigning groups.
In a letter to Mr Bruce-Lockhart, Trudy says:
"I am sure you will agree that these aims echo entirely those of Kent County Council, and I hope you will be able to pledge Kent County Council's support for this new national network."
At the Conference, where local authority support from all over the country gave their support to the setting up of the network. Trudy said:
"The launch of this new network by professional planning officers will be welcomed by all those who have been campaigning on siting of mobile phone masts. It sends a strong message to government that changes must be made to planning laws. At present special powers given to the operators mean objectors often find themselves fighting with their hands tied behind their backs."
Note: At present all mast applications under 15 metres high do not require full planning consent, and the government is using strong-arm tactics to suggest that local planning authorities must disregard any concerns about harmful health effects of mast emissions. Delegates at Harrow were told that this flies in the face of Human Rights Legislation.