MP JANET BACKING PHONE MAST FIGHT
by NERMIN OOMER
Burton Mail
BURTON ’S MP has backed villagers involved in a dispute with a telecommunications company over the installation of a mobile phone mast.
Janet Dean MP has contacted phone giant 02 about the siting of a controversial mast in Stretton.
The company sparked outrage on Monday after contractors began to lay the foundations for a mast in Hillfield Lane , Stretton.
East Staffordshire Borough Council approved a planning application for the mast in January, despite more than 50 objections from residents concerned about health risks.
However at the time the firm agreed to look for an alternative site and said it would notify the council if any work was to begin. It did not do this before contractors began laying the mast’s foundations earlier this week.
Work was halted on the mast in Hillfield Lane on Tuesday and 02 said that a change of contractors meant the work had mistakenly gone ahead.
Mrs Dean said she had telephoned the chief executive of 02 on Tuesday after work had begun on the site.
She said: "I know from Councillor Ron Clarke that residents remain concerned because the company are not at the moment removing the foundations that have been installed.
"While I can understand the reluctance of 02 to remove the foundations until a new site is agreed, I have pressed 02 for reassurances. In particular, I have asked for confirmation that even though planning permission has been obtained for the Hillfield Lane site, the construction of the mast will not go ahead there, providing a suitable alternative site can be agreed."
An 02 spokesman told the Mail at the time work on the mast had been "postponed" and that workers were looking for an alternative site once more.
The spokesman said: "Unfortunately there was a change of personnel and the sites that were going to be looked at were never progressed."
Burton Mail
BURTON ’S MP has backed villagers involved in a dispute with a telecommunications company over the installation of a mobile phone mast.
Janet Dean MP has contacted phone giant 02 about the siting of a controversial mast in Stretton.
The company sparked outrage on Monday after contractors began to lay the foundations for a mast in Hillfield Lane , Stretton.
East Staffordshire Borough Council approved a planning application for the mast in January, despite more than 50 objections from residents concerned about health risks.
However at the time the firm agreed to look for an alternative site and said it would notify the council if any work was to begin. It did not do this before contractors began laying the mast’s foundations earlier this week.
Work was halted on the mast in Hillfield Lane on Tuesday and 02 said that a change of contractors meant the work had mistakenly gone ahead.
Mrs Dean said she had telephoned the chief executive of 02 on Tuesday after work had begun on the site.
She said: "I know from Councillor Ron Clarke that residents remain concerned because the company are not at the moment removing the foundations that have been installed.
"While I can understand the reluctance of 02 to remove the foundations until a new site is agreed, I have pressed 02 for reassurances. In particular, I have asked for confirmation that even though planning permission has been obtained for the Hillfield Lane site, the construction of the mast will not go ahead there, providing a suitable alternative site can be agreed."
An 02 spokesman told the Mail at the time work on the mast had been "postponed" and that workers were looking for an alternative site once more.
The spokesman said: "Unfortunately there was a change of personnel and the sites that were going to be looked at were never progressed."
Starmail - 13. Jun, 22:34
