By Vivienne Russell | 5 November 2012
England and Wales could experience a mobile phone mast ‘free-for-all’ following a change in the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, councils have warned.
Ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading today, the Local Government Association highlighted an amendment that would extend planning deregulation to telecommunications in a bid to increase access to mobile broadband.
The LGA says this would sideline the views of councils and residents in any decision on where new phone masts might be sited. It is calling on the government to either revise the amendment or set out how it will ensure it is not used to deregulate the siting of phone masts.
Mike Jones, chair of the LGA’s environment and housing board, said: ‘These proposals go far beyond the government’s previously announced policy of helping the rollout of broadband and the implications are alarming.
‘We are concerned that this will open the door to a mobile phone mast free-for-all where giant masts could start cropping up in beauty spots, historic locations and next to schools. People would be left powerless to object and councils would be left powerless to intervene.’
Jones added that local authorities were also committed to the extension of the broadband network, but needed to be able to ensure local areas were not spoilt.
‘Councils want to be able to work with network providers to ensure local areas get the best possible coverage in a way that residents are happy with,’ he said.
England and Wales could experience a mobile phone mast ‘free-for-all’ following a change in the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, councils have warned.
Ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading today, the Local Government Association highlighted an amendment that would extend planning deregulation to telecommunications in a bid to increase access to mobile broadband.
The LGA says this would sideline the views of councils and residents in any decision on where new phone masts might be sited. It is calling on the government to either revise the amendment or set out how it will ensure it is not used to deregulate the siting of phone masts.
Mike Jones, chair of the LGA’s environment and housing board, said: ‘These proposals go far beyond the government’s previously announced policy of helping the rollout of broadband and the implications are alarming.
‘We are concerned that this will open the door to a mobile phone mast free-for-all where giant masts could start cropping up in beauty spots, historic locations and next to schools. People would be left powerless to object and councils would be left powerless to intervene.’
Jones added that local authorities were also committed to the extension of the broadband network, but needed to be able to ensure local areas were not spoilt.
‘Councils want to be able to work with network providers to ensure local areas get the best possible coverage in a way that residents are happy with,’ he said.
