Lib Dem Council steps up action over Phone Masts

8.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd May 2006

Action demanded on phone masts

Bournemouth Council has taken a series of actions over recent new masts, and last week Cabinet considered the issue further, revising the policy about siting masts on Council Land.

So far officers have been instructed to

• meet with operators to request resiting the Fisherman's Avenue, Queen's Park South Drive, and Holly Tree Pub masts

• ask the operators to turn off the masts until alternative sites can be found

• publish information about mast roll-out plans, keep it up to date and easy to understand

• investigate fully planning blunders relating to some of the mast erections, and take immediate action to prevent mistakes in the future

• prepare for legal action if necessary

• ask operators to share masts (however the Council cannot legally force operators to do so)

"It's vital that the Council gets this right from now on," says Boscombe East Ward councillor Andrew Garratt. "Residents are rightly unhappy that Council mistakes have meant operators have been able to put up masts in unsatisfactory places."

"In the end Bournemouth Council must adopt a comprehensive policy on handling the installation of mobile phone masts and back this up with dedicated support from council officers."

Related Links:

Council publishes mobile phone mast plans after Lib Dem pressure.

Council: rollout plans page.

Mast-finder site.