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I am one of Kitty's constituents and I
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7 March 2006
For immediate release
Campaign to tighten planning controls on mobile telephone masts to continue says MP
Burnley MP Kitty Ussher has pledged to continue her support for the campaign to tighten the planning regulations governing the siting of mobile telephone masts. Kitty made the pledge after raising the concerns of local residents and the Burnley based campaign 'Together Against Masts' in Parliament last week during the debate on the Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill.
Ms Ussher said:
"I'm disappointed that this private members Bill will not proceed further but I shall certainly continue to campaign for many of the changes it proposed and support any similar Bill that comes forward. Although the Government has strengthened the powers of Councils to deal with mobile phone masts, I remain concerned that these controls are not strong enough to properly regulate their development.
I do however welcome the announcement made last week by the Government that they will look again at the voluntary Code of Best Practice on the siting of masts to see what improvements can be made.
It is important that mobile phone companies have the masts they need to provide the mobile phone network on which all of use with mobile phones rely, but it is also important that the masts are sited sensitively, taking into account local concerns and objections. I do not believe that when there are other options, masts should be placed in residential areas and I do not believe they should be placed near schools, nurseries or hospitals."
Ends
Editors Notes
1. The Telecommunications Masts (Planning Control) Bill is a Private Members Bill introduced by David Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon. It was debated on Friday 3 March but the Bill failed to proceed to Committee Stage having run out of Parliamentary time for further discussion.
2. ODPM published the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development in November 2002. The Code was produced jointly by central and local government and the mobile phone industry. It provides advice on consultation procedures between operators, local authorities and local people. The Code of Best Practice can be found at www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1144926
3. The Code was produced to provide clear and practical advice to ensure the delivery of significantly better and more effective communication and consultation between operators, local authorities and local people.
4. The Code’s advice on good location and design of telecommunications development should also help direct development to the most appropriate locations and to help minimise environmental impact and intrusion.
5. In September 2004 ODPM commissioned the University of Reading and Arup to undertake an independent study to assess, the impact that the Code has had since its introduction, how local authorities have implemented the Code and how the public perceives its operation. The report was published last week and can be found at www.odpm.gov.uk/index.asp?2
6. Speaking on publication of the study, ODPM Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:
"People need to have confidence in the planning system, and to know that we are listening to their concerns and responding to them. The review makes clear the Code of Best Practice has had a significant positive impact and this is being further strengthened as awareness of the Code and its requirements becomes further established.
However, the expectations of the general public have moved on and the guidance needs updating and improving in some areas. We are in the process of considering what improvements will help create a system that better meets the public’s expectations for consultation.”
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Kitty is a regular contributor to parliamentary debates, asking questions of ministers on behalf of her constituents.
For more details of Kitty's parlimentary activities |
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In addition to her weekly column in Friday's Burnley Express, Kitty also writes for the Guardian on-line politics page as well as Tribune newspaper  |
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