John Baron

Conservative Party | Billericay and District

Points of View

Mobile Masts

I’m a strong believer in allowing local people to have a greater say in local matters. Hence my opposition to centralised house-building targets – local people should decide the right level and type of local development, not politicians sitting in London or elsewhere.

I therefore very much welcome new Conservative proposals to give local people far more control over the siting of new phone masts.

These masts have caused considerable concern locally and this is why we have instigated initiatives like BMW – Billericay Mast Watch. However, we need a general shake-up of planning laws because at present there is a presumption in favour of development in the current planning system, which overrides local, environmental and safety concerns. This needs to be corrected, especially as 3G technology could result in an extra 100,000 more masts being sited across the country.

Our proposals would ensure all mobile phone mast developments would require full planning permission, so that residents would be fully consulted as to where masts are located.

Councils would also be allowed to take health concerns into account such as when sites are being considered near homes, hospitals and schools. Current national planning guidance prohibits this. This is particularly important because, until we know for sure that phone masts are safe, we need to adopt a safety first approach.

We all want to be able to use a mobile phone, but this doesn’t mean masts should be constructed without any regard for the well-being of local people. Local councillors, answerable to local residents, should have the final say on the best location for any new masts.

Crays Hill travellers

The traveller situation in Crays Hill has received a lot of national media attention recently.

The bottom line is that local residents are being discriminated against by planning laws that allow travellers to buy land and then illegally develop it. The laws need changing, but despite my Greenbelt Protection Bill receiving good cross party support, and despite meeting with Tony Blair, the Government refuses to grasp this nettle.

Meanwhile, local parents are rightly concerned about the educational welfare of their children, whilst the Council is planning to move some travellers on when Prescott’s two year extension comes to an end in May 2005. No-one is looking to discriminate against a minority, but it is only right that all those who live in a community abide by its rules and regulations.