Battle is on to block 'perverse' phone mast
By Colleen McDonnell
A mobile phone mast proposed for a site outside Hampton Community College has been called "insensitive and perverse" by a councillor who has just settled plans with a social housing group to improve the overall environment of the area.
The site for the planned O2 mobile phone mast at the junction of Dean Road and Rectory Grove would also be just a few feet from a block of flats and the site where local councillors are fighting to get a new post office.
If O2 gets permission to put up the mast outside the school, where next year students will walk by on their way through the schools' new entrance, Hampton North councillor Geoffrey Samuel said it would be totally incompatible with plans to improve the environment in that precise area. continued...
He said: "The proposal to site a mast a few feet from the students' entrance is insensitive and perverse. Hampton Community College is very worried and upset about it."
The application to erect the mast was submitted by O2 to Richmond upon Thames planning department two weeks ago.
Cllr Samuel said Richmond Council had new guidelines that required the phone company to show evidence that it had gone to all lengths to find alternative sights before selecting a site near a school or a residential area.
Cllr Samuel said: "There are plenty of alternative sites. I think they will fall at that fence."
He said the plans were submitted without first consulting the ward councillors for Hampton North. The mobile phone company only sent literature about the mast to councillors of Fulwell and Hampton Hill and contacted Hampton North councillors after planning application was submitted.
Richmond Council's planning department said a decision would be likely in July.
An objection to the mast has been submitted to the council and residents are putting together a petition to be submitted to Richmond Council at its next full meeting in June.
People who would like to object to the mast should write to Richmond Council's planning department.
10:50am today
© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group
http://tinyurl.com/hbs2s
A mobile phone mast proposed for a site outside Hampton Community College has been called "insensitive and perverse" by a councillor who has just settled plans with a social housing group to improve the overall environment of the area.
The site for the planned O2 mobile phone mast at the junction of Dean Road and Rectory Grove would also be just a few feet from a block of flats and the site where local councillors are fighting to get a new post office.
If O2 gets permission to put up the mast outside the school, where next year students will walk by on their way through the schools' new entrance, Hampton North councillor Geoffrey Samuel said it would be totally incompatible with plans to improve the environment in that precise area. continued...
He said: "The proposal to site a mast a few feet from the students' entrance is insensitive and perverse. Hampton Community College is very worried and upset about it."
The application to erect the mast was submitted by O2 to Richmond upon Thames planning department two weeks ago.
Cllr Samuel said Richmond Council had new guidelines that required the phone company to show evidence that it had gone to all lengths to find alternative sights before selecting a site near a school or a residential area.
Cllr Samuel said: "There are plenty of alternative sites. I think they will fall at that fence."
He said the plans were submitted without first consulting the ward councillors for Hampton North. The mobile phone company only sent literature about the mast to councillors of Fulwell and Hampton Hill and contacted Hampton North councillors after planning application was submitted.
Richmond Council's planning department said a decision would be likely in July.
An objection to the mast has been submitted to the council and residents are putting together a petition to be submitted to Richmond Council at its next full meeting in June.
People who would like to object to the mast should write to Richmond Council's planning department.
10:50am today
© Copyright 2001-2006 Newsquest Media Group
http://tinyurl.com/hbs2s
rudkla - 26. Mai, 18:19
