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LIB DEMS LAUNCH PHONE MAST PROTEST
24/9/07: Lib Dem city councillor Janie Kirkman is to ask the Council to pledge support to the Telephone mast Bill going thorough parliament at this week's Full Council meeting.
Coun Kirkman has led the campaign in her ward, Scotforth East, to oppose the siting of a telephone mast by T Mobile. '
"I was shocked by the attitude of the mobile companies," she explained. "They seem to think they have the right to site a telephone mast whereever they want - regardless of what the local population thinks."
Stockport Lib Dem MP Andrew Stunell is currently pushing for his private members bill to be accepted as law. Coun. Kirkman will be asking the Council to support this bill and to ask local MPs to support it too.
"It is shocking to think that you need less permission to put up a 15 foot mast than you do to put up a conservatory on your house," feels Coun. Kirkman. "It is clearly wrong.
"Most people nowadays use a mobile phone - but this should not mean mobile phone companies can just ride rough shod over people's rights and feelings.
"Mobile companies have forked out billions for the right to operate. It therefore seems ridiculous that they can then ignore planning laws everyone else has to obey. They argue this is because of commercial needs - but small local firms manage to remain within the normal planning laws and so should the mobile companies."
Many local councillors of different political parties have been involved in campaiigns against plans for the siting of some phone masts, and local MP Geraldine Smith has previously backed some campaigns, including one in Skerton.
Andrew Stunnell's bill, if agreed by pariliament, will require mobile companies to prove the need for their mast to be there.
At present, there are tales of mobile firms pinning up an A4 notice before erecting a mast and telling local people that they must prove the mast should be elsewhere seem to be the norm.
"This must stop!" says Coun. Kirkman.

Previous stories: 1 - 15 September 2007
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