Proposed Frank Field Bill

From Radio 4's You and Yours program:

PHONE MASTS
There are currently 35,000 mobile phone masts across the UK. Five thousand new ones will be in place by the end of this year alone. Most of them have been built by the only company offering the new video phones so far. If they do catch on, we calculate there will be at least another 10,000 masts needed. Mike Dolan of the Mobile Operators Association, and Frank Field MP, who wants new laws to limit the number of applications for planning permission for mobile phone masts, argue the case for and against.

Frank Field used this opportunity to announce that he would be resubmitting this bill to parliament next week. A recording of the article (6 minutes, 770k mp3) is available here.


We are to sorry to report that the Bill from Frank Field did not get a second reading on the 19th. Apparently it was not given a high enough priority on the day and, as a result, it was timed out. Details are here.

Permit a local planning authority to decline to determine an application for
the development of telecommunications transmission antennae in certain
circumstances.

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice
and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows: -

1 Power of local planning authority to decline to determine applications:
telecommunications transmission antennae

(1) The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (c. 8) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 70A, there is inserted the following section -

"7OB Power of local planning authority to decline to determine applications:
telecommunications transmission antenna
    
(1) A local planning authority may decline to determine an application for
    planning permission for the development of any structure whether
    existing or proposed to be built, to be employed.for the purposed of
    supporting telecommunications transmission antenna if within the
    period of three years ending with the date on which the application is
    received, two or more application have been made for the
    development of such a structure on a site which in the opinion of the
    local planning authority is the same of substantially the same

(2) Where a local planning authority has declined to determine an
    application under subsection (1), it may decline to determine any
    further applications for the development of such a structure on a site
    which in the opinion of the authority is the same or substantially the
    same for a period of five years beginning with the date on which the
    relevant application for the purpose of subsection (1) was received."


2 Telecommunications Transmitters (Restrictions on Planning Applications) Bill

2 Short title and extent

(1) This Act may be cite as Telecommunications Transmitters (Restrictions
    on Planning Applications) act 2001.

(2) This Act extends to England and Wales only.