Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill

12.00.00am GMT Tue 18th Jan 2005

Andrew Stunell, Liberal Democrat MP for Hazelgrove and Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, today published a Bill entitled Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill having secured a Private Members' Bill in this parliamentary session. Local MP Annette Brooke is a sponsor of the Bill.

MPs support Andrew Stunell's Private Members' Bill on Mobile Phone Masts

The huge increase in telecommunications technology has spawned a rapid increase in such masts for mobile phone companies. There is clearly a huge amount of public concern surrounding both the potential future health effects and the siting of mobile phone masts, and many people are understandably concerned about having mobile phone masts located near residential areas, office buildings and in particular, schools.

Currently, many masts do not require planning permission at all, and councils are not allowed to take public concerns about health into consideration if the mobile phone operators have a health certificate.

Andrew Stunell's Private Members' Bill will address the lack of planning regulations in relation to erecting such masts by seeking to amend the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and will also look at weaknesses in other legislation (Telecommunications Act 1984 & Communications Act 2003) with a view to tighten up controls on planning.

Commenting on the Bill's publication, Annette Brooke said:

"I sincerely hope that this Bill gains Government support given the unknown and as yet un-researched health effects that telecoms radio waves and mobile phone masts might have on public health.

"It is unbelievable that in the absence of such research, many such masts do not require planning permission. This Government should tighten planning rules now rather than wait until research is available, in case that evidence shows that such masts are dangerous."

Earlier this month a precautionary approach to mobile phone masts was emphasised by Sir William Stewart, chair of the Independent Expert group on Mobile Phones, whose report said improvements should be made in the availability of information about mobile phones and masts to the public and that the planning process for the erection of base stations, which has caused widespread concern, should be subject to independent review.

The government is now considering its response to the Stewart report and recent court cases testing the limits of the planning law on mobile phone masts.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mobile Communications, of which Annette Brooke is a member, aims to provide a forum for debate on the issue of mobile technology and to influence the Government on these crucial issues.