David Lepper

Labour Party | Brighton Pavilion

Mobile phone masts

House of Commons, Tuesday 24th April 2001

Mr. David Lepper (Brighton, Pavilion): I welcome the announcements that my right hon. Friend made in March ( about planning procedures for mobile phone masts), as I am sure that others do. However, when he lays the final regulations that relate to those announcements, will he take into account the experience of my constituents in Mitre house, a block of flats in my constituency? My constituents found that they and the local council were powerless to prevent the erection of a mast on the roof of the building. Nothing less than full planning permission would satisfy the need for proper consultation.

Mr. Raynsford: I assure my hon. Friend that under the arrangements that we have announced, roof-based masts will also be subject to the 56-day procedure. Currently, a separate 28-day procedure applies in respect of such masts, so there is a significant improvement. The doubling of the consultation period should ensure that his concerns in respect of his constituents' views about such proposals are dealt with satisfactorily.