Orange mast in Court Rec. denied Planning Permission

Despite a recommendation by council planners to approve the controversial Orange Telecoms mast in Court Rec., Lib Dem Cllr Paul Green skilfully persuaded the Planning Committee to reject it. Only Cllr Alan Carlson (Labour) supported it, claiming that within 6 months of installation everyone would forget their objections and accept it.

Other members accepted Paul Green's arguments that not only was the mast unsightly, but that even though the government would not allow the committee to reject the mast on Health grounds, the widespread public fears amongst parents of small children were so strong that erecting such a mast in a public park would effectively stop large numbers of people from using that park. One only had to look at the huge number of objections and the massive public petition to realise this was true.

This was the first application locally for a phone mast in a park, but members clearly realised that if approved it would not be the last.

Officers argued that the mast would be hidden by trees for 6 months of the year, but members were more concerned about the 6 months when it would be visible.

Cllr Colin Taylor (Lib Dem) drew attention to the officers comment that there was not a school nearby, saying this was recognition that account would be taken of health fears if there were a school. What was so different between a school and a children's play area in a park he asked, especially as children could play within just a few metres of its base.

The packed public gallery applauded the rejection, but Cllr Green said after the meeting that the next problem was that Orange would probably appeal.

Cllr Colin Taylor was concerned that independently of the Planning Application, the council was apparently negotiating to sell Orange the right to use the park in this way - and presumably other parks too. "How can the RA party be so totally unaware of public opinion as to allow public money to be spent even talking about such an obviously unacceptable scheme" he asked, "After the Ewell Court House fiasco I suppose we shouldn't be surprised at anything, but our present Mayor at least has always championed mast objectors - haven't her party colleagues been listening?"

Formal notices have already appeared in the park and in the local Guardian newspaper stating that the Council propose to enter into a Lease with Orange for the installation of a telecommunications mast in Court Recreation Ground. Any objections to this proposal should be sent in writing to David Smith, Chief Executive, at the Town Hall by Sept 29 latest, stating the reasons for objection.