Conservatives walk away from phone mast battle

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2008

LIBERAL Democrats in Guildford are disappointed that the Conservatives didn't support calls to tighten up planning rules on mobile phone masts.

Currently, fewer restrictions govern planning applications for phone masts up to 15 metres in height, often making it difficult for councils to refuse permission for controversial proposals.

Liberal Democrats in Parliament recently moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which would have meant applications for phone masts would have required full planning permission and therefore be considered in the same way as applications for new buildings or change of use of existing ones.

But Labour MPs voted against the call and Conservative MPs did not bother voting at all.

Sue Doughty, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Guildford, said, "Communities can sometimes be powerless to stop inappropriately sited phone masts going ahead because the planning system has fewer restrictions on them than for many other planning applications.

"This gives phone companies an advantage which is not enjoyed by other individuals and businesses applying for planning permission. Our amendment would have made the system fairer.

"I was very disappointed however to see that Conservative MPs did not bother to vote for this change. Ironically, a Tory MP (David Curry) put forward exactly the same proposal in 2006 and this was backed by their front bench. This time however, they simply sat on their hands, despite telling everyone at the general election that they support this policy.

"The change the Liberal Democrats proposed in the House of Commons would have given residents a fighting chance to stop inappropriately sited phone masts. It would have meant the phone companies would have had to apply for full planning permission in the same way that any other business would need to."

NOTES

On 25th June, Liberal Democrat MP Andrew Stunell moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which, if passed, would have required full planning permission for the erection of phone masts up to 15 metres in height. The amendment was rejected by Labour (though two Labour MPs did vote for it - John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn) and therefore defeated. The Conservatives have a manifesto commitment to introduce this planning requirement but despite this, they abstained (except for Peter Bottomley, who voted for it).

The link to the vote is: http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2008-06-25&number=234&display=allvotes&sort=name

Exactly the same proposal was put forward in 2006 by a Tory MP (David Curry), and officially backed by their front bench: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200506/telecommunications_masts_planning_control.htm

An early day motion (2006/552) was proposed by Andrew Stunell MP in December 2006, calling for the above planning powers to be given to councils. It was signed by 7 Conservative and 27 Labour MPs, as well as 22 Liberal Democrats. The link to the motion and the MPs who supported it is: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32215&SESSION=885