Update on Masts in Parks

The motion that "This Council is not willing to allow telecommunications masts in the Borough's parks or recreation grounds" proposed by Cllr Colin Taylor and seconded by Cllr Jonathan Lees, was debated at a meeting of the Telecommunications Masts sub-committee on 25th October. Two public speakers supported the motion, raising concerns about harm to human health, damage to flora and fauna and public opposition to recent applications within the Borough.

Colin identified concerns about the Council's current telecommunications masts policy. He said that as Government advice suggested a precautionary approach to masts within 250 metres of schools, logically this should also be applied to recreational facilities used by children. This had been accepted in recent cases, so a lot of council officer time and public anxiety could now be saved if it was known in advance that the same policy would be adopted for future applications for masts in parks, where there were recreational facilities for children. It would also be fairer to mobile phone companies, who would know where they stood.

Jonathan wasn't able to be at the meeting, which was held at 6.00 pm, but wrote making particular reference to the level of public concern relating to telecommunications masts.

Members of the sub-committee debated the merits and disadvantages of adopting a blanket policy for council land, compared to considering each application on its merits; the need to preserve the Borough's open spaces and the concern expressed by residents and schools about recent applications. They also considered the potential benefit of being able to use appropriate locations on Council owned land where this was a better solution than the alternatives and noted that in future there would be better consultation with telecommunications masts operators about their advance plans for masts within the Borough.

After Colin pointed out that the motion was not calling for a blanket ban across all Council property, only land used for recreational activities by children, it was agreed to recommend to the Strategy and Resources committee that that the Council should designate certain areas within the Borough's parks and recreational grounds as exclusion areas for any future telecommunications masts installations, and that a map defining these areas should be developed in consultation with the Leisure committee. The Telecommunications Masts Sub-Committee would continue to consider applications located on Council owned land outside these areas on their individual merits.

The original motion and this recommendation are now due to be debated by the Strategy and Resources committee. Their next meeting is at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 15th November.