MAST SCHEME TO GO BEFORE INSPECTOR
Bath Chronicle
11:00 - 06 September 2005
A Planning inquiry will now decide the fate of a controversial phone mast scheme in Bath. Earlier this year, Bath and North East Somerset Council delayed a decision on the mobile phone base station and antennae planned for a site at Wellsway.
Now operator Hutchinson 3G has appealed against the authority's failure to reach a verdict over the mast earmarked for the roof of the Smile store.
The Planning Inspectorate will now appoint an inspector to look at the case for and against the mast and recommend whether permission should be given.
Councillors had argued that inadequate research had been done into whether the mast could be located elsewhere, and said more time should be spent examining whether Hutchinson could share the same site as a rival phone company.
Campaigners opposed to the scheme have recently set up a new action group claiming the mast would be too close to homes.
They had celebrated when an application in the same area by phone company O2 was withdrawn and the company agreed to work on a plan for a mast site in nearby Alexandra Park.
But within months, Hutchinson 3G had submitted its application for the site at Wellsway.
The inspector will look at written submissions from each side and visit the site before making a recommendation for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Any comments sent by residents to B &NES will be forwarded to the inspectorate.
Anyone wanting to comment is asked to write to The Planning Inspectorate, 3/25 Hawk Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, sending three copies of their letter.
They should quote the reference number APP/F0114/A/05/1187757.
11:00 - 06 September 2005
A Planning inquiry will now decide the fate of a controversial phone mast scheme in Bath. Earlier this year, Bath and North East Somerset Council delayed a decision on the mobile phone base station and antennae planned for a site at Wellsway.
Now operator Hutchinson 3G has appealed against the authority's failure to reach a verdict over the mast earmarked for the roof of the Smile store.
The Planning Inspectorate will now appoint an inspector to look at the case for and against the mast and recommend whether permission should be given.
Councillors had argued that inadequate research had been done into whether the mast could be located elsewhere, and said more time should be spent examining whether Hutchinson could share the same site as a rival phone company.
Campaigners opposed to the scheme have recently set up a new action group claiming the mast would be too close to homes.
They had celebrated when an application in the same area by phone company O2 was withdrawn and the company agreed to work on a plan for a mast site in nearby Alexandra Park.
But within months, Hutchinson 3G had submitted its application for the site at Wellsway.
The inspector will look at written submissions from each side and visit the site before making a recommendation for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Any comments sent by residents to B &NES will be forwarded to the inspectorate.
Anyone wanting to comment is asked to write to The Planning Inspectorate, 3/25 Hawk Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, sending three copies of their letter.
They should quote the reference number APP/F0114/A/05/1187757.
Starmail - 7. Sep, 10:38
