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Tower Action Group |
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`Keep phone masts out of town'
York council should take steps to place telecommunication masts outside densely -populated areas, according to a city councillor. Holgate ward councillor Liz Edge said city bosses should help companies find alternative sites for the controversial dishes, antennae and equipment. Her call follows a decision to refuse permission for three more antennae and a pole-mounted dish to be placed on top of Severus Water Tower, in Sowerby Road, Acomb. The additions to the 28-metre structure, which is already home to 34 pieces of equipment, met fierce opposition from residents who said they should be blocked for health, safety and aesthetic reasons. Coun Edge said the recent planning application highlighted how planners must look at other suitable sites outside the city's most populated areas. She said: "The tragedy is that we do not know what the long-term effects of radiation from these masts could be because they have not been around that long." She added that the council could minimise any possible risks by placing the masts away from people. John Gears, who lives near the tower, said: "If they can send pictures to the other side of the earth they can put a mast outside of a built-up area to get the signals they need. "They want to use this water tower purely and simply because it is there. It is surrounded by houses and there are 400 children at school 200 yards away." Cliff Carruthers, head of development control at City of York Council, said: "The council has a policy in its Draft Local Plan which gives guidance on how it will assess applications for telecommunications developments. "The Government has also produced a code of best practice on mobile phone networks which gives the telecommunications companies and local planning authorities guidance and advice on procedures and on siting and design of masts and equipment. "When making decisions on these developments, the local plan policies and advice in the code form the context within which these proposals are considered. "Because of the technical requirements of the telecommunications companies to provide cover in urban locations, it is not possible for councils to say that such masts and equipment should be banned from built-up areas." Updated: 12:13 Saturday, February 01, 2003 |
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