Plans to Restrict Cellphone Tower Sitting

The UK member of Parliament, Richard Spring MP has presented a new bill to control the sitting of mobile phone towers within England and Wales. Richard's Bill would give local authorities greater powers over the erection of transmission masts, as in Scotland.

Richard is a long-standing campaigner on this issue and introduced an adjournment debate in Parliament on transmission masts this time last year. His interest in this matter was sparked by a number of constituents relaying their fears that these masts were having a detrimental effect on their health.

In May 2000 an independent expert group set up by the Government, chaired by Sir William Stewart, concluded that a precautionary principle should be adopted when deciding on the location of masts. Richard is not claiming that there is certain scientific evidence connecting these masts with ill-health, but the Bill will ensure a precautionary approach is adopted by local authorities when considering planning permission.

Richard's Bill is backed by both local authorities in his constituency, a growing number of MPs of all political parties, and the Local Government Association.

Richard stated "There has been a depressing number of occasions in my constituency where masts have been placed close to schools and population centres, causing huge and fully understandable protests from local residents. Additionally, the telecommunications companies have been known to flagrantly abuse the public trust in their actions.

"As I looked into this issue further I was staggered to see this situation replicated across the country. I have personally been made aware of countless cases of ill health and serious cancers that people have linked to transmission masts. Judging by how many cases have been handed to me by colleagues I believe just about every MP in the country must have been affected by this issue.

"To hear of so many stories of ill-health from perfectly rational and sensible people is deeply disturbing. I just know that there is too much public anxiety and fear for us not to act. This is why I am presenting this Bill. We simply do not know what the long term health impact is of these base stations and transmissions masts, especially as a minority of scientific opinion is deeply concerned, despite Government assurances.

"The Stewart Report that was commissioned by the Government to look into the health and safety impact of these masts recommended local authorities use the precautionary principle when deciding locations for these masts. This principle is being ignored.

"My Private Members Bill will give local authorities greater powers over the erection of transmission masts. I hope by regulating that the beam of greatest intensity does not fall on schools, hospitals and centres of population, the depressing stories of cancer and ill-health will not be so profound. If nothing else my Bill will reduce the fear so many people have about these structures."

Posted to the site on 22nd March 2004