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January 20th, 2006

05:14 pm [Link]

It's 'crunch time' for phone mast campaign PLANNING: It's 'crunch time' for phone mast campaign CAMPAIGNING residents have reached a key point in their bid to stop a telephone mast being built outside their homes. People living in Suttons Lane, in Deeping Gate, were outraged when they discovered plans for a 25-metre mast to be built on the pavement near their homes. Simon Hoppe, who lives in the street, went round the 100 homes in Deeping Gate knocking on doors to let people know what was going on. Objections from people prompted Peterborough City Council to throw out the planning application, allowing residents to celebrate a just victory. But Mobile phone operator Hutchison 3G appealed against the decision and it was overturned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Government's decision to go back on the council's choice has left people in the area fuming. Now residents are planning a letter-writing and petitioning campaign in the hope the powers that be will listen to their concerns. Mr Hoppe said: "It is crunch time now. This doesn't make sense in a democracy and we have got to get together to launch this campaign." The original application was put forward last year. Once they got wind of it, 44 residents wrote to Peterborough City Council declaring their opposition to the plans. They opposed it on the grounds it would ruin the look of the area and cause health risks to people living nearby. They fear the health of one the campaigners, who already suffers from poor health, may be worsened by the presence of the mast. Mr Hoppe said: "There was a very high objection rate from local residents because of the effect on the landscape and the health risks. "It got to the point where many people wrote in and the council did its job and rejected the application. We were relieved and thought it had gone away. The campaigners now hope to fight the decision in the hope of getting it overturned. The latest third generation mobile phones can send video images, but a new network of base stations is required to support them. These masts operate at a higher frequency than those for traditional mobiles. Many residents have opposed them because of concerns about higher levels of radiation. No one from Hutchinson 3G was available to comment. 20 January 2006 All rights reserved © 2006 Johnston Press New Media. http://tinyurl.com/9a54f