Cornwall correspondent reports.
The telecommunications company, O2, has erected a phone mast at Wheal Northey Industrial Estate, Bethel, St Austell, Cornwall. Planning permission had been denied by a vote of 4:3 against. But because the wording of the rejection used the word ‘objected’, as opposed to ‘refused’, O2 decided that they would erect the mast anyway, as the council had ‘only’ objected to it, and had not actually ‘refused’ it – such was the interpretation of the O2 lawyers.
The site of the mast is surrounded by residential properties, and not unsurprisingly the local people are concerned about the possible harmful effects of radiation emissions – especially upon vulnerable youngsters.
Now, it has often been said that the law is an ass; and so too, it appears, are government guidelines – so make of this what you will: if a phone mast is already in place, then any planning application for a new school to be built within 400 metres of the mast will be rejected on health grounds. But, if a phone company wishes to erect a mast within 400 metres of an existing school, then no such restrictions apply. This is the ludicrous situation that the residents of Bethel, as well as the pupils of Bishop Bronscombe primary school (which is situated well within the danger zone), find themselves in.
It is now down to Restormel Borough Council to decide if they should enforce the removal of the mast. A hearing by the Development Control Committee of Restormel Borough Council will take place on Thursday 22nd March 2007. It is feared that O2 will threaten the council with costly and protracted legal action on the grounds that they weren’t ‘technically’ denied planning permission; the fear being that the council will back-off rather than face such costly legal proceedings. I hasten to add that the locals are not expecting the conclusion of the committee to be the enforced removal of an illegally sited mast. Big business usually gets it way; and it wouldn’t waste money buying land and erecting these masts in the first place unless it was supremely confident of having its planning applications, refused or otherwise, upheld.
Concerned locals have formed the ‘Bethel Mast Action Group.’ They have had to work hard to raise awareness of the problem because the local MP, Matthew Taylor (Lib-Dem), has refused to get involved. Local estate agents have also informed them that property prices have dropped 25% in the vicinity of the mast – just to add to their woes.
The Bethel Mast Action Group will be holding a demonstration outside the council’s offices at 39 Penwinnick Road, St Austell, Cornwall from around 4pm on Thursday 22nd March 2007. If you are available to turn up in support, then please do so – the more, the better.
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