UK Politician Proposes Tighter Planning Controls on Phone Towers

Last Friday, the UK politician, Andrew Stunell MP presented a bill to Parliament that aims to bring mobile phone masts under strict planning control and bring in the 'precautionary principle', giving extra safeguards for schools, homes, and medical facilities from the risk of excessive radiation.

The positioning of mobile phone masts has caused controversy across the country as masts have been put up close to schools, hospitals and residential areas. Local planning authorities do not currently have any powers to block mast applications for masts below 15m and only have limited powers for those above.

Andrew Stunell MP said: "The Conservatives did a deal with the phone companies when they were in government to cut planning controls for masts.

"It is easier to get planning permission for a mast than it is for a porch. This is an alarming situation and needs to be addressed."

"My Bill will allow planning authorities to take account of health concerns and will require the industry to produce more evidence about the radiation emitted, and to justify the need for each mast."

"I hope that the bill gains all party support given the unknown and as yet unresearched effects the masts might have on public health."

"My new Bill is supported by MPs of all party, but is opposed by the Government. If you want to see it go into law, you'd better keep your fingers crossed!"

Andrew Stunell's Bill is based on the work of the All Party Mobile Phones Group, whose report last year recommended the re-imposition of normal planning controls on phone masts (at present there are wide-spread exemptions which frustrate objectors and planning authorities), and the adoption of the 'Precautionary Principle' when considering applications.

The main provisions of the Bill reflect these recommendations:

Clause 1 specifies that every mast application must include a 'precautionary principle' statement. If that statement does not give a particular mast a clean bill of health, that can now be a reason for refusal. (At present all health issues are reserved to central government in relation to masts.)

Clause 2 requires that the statement set out details about the intensity and direction of the signal radiated from the mast. If the strongest part of the radiation falls on school or other educational buildings or land, or on any medical facilities, or on homes then, in certain circumstances, that could provide sufficient grounds for refusal of planning permission. (At present a Planning Authority can take no such evidence into account).

Another important step is to bring all masts back within the planning system - at present those below 15 metres high (around 50 feet) are exempt from control.

The bill is opposed by the government."

Posted to the site on 21st March 2005