Community trust veto on mobile phone masts
DAN GRIMMER
28 February 2007 08:33
A community trust is to decide whether to put a permanent ban on mobile phone companies putting masts on its own land.
The North Earlham Larkman and Marlpit (Nelm) development trust will vote next week on whether to introduce a moratorium on telecommunication development on all the land it owns in the city. The move came after the community regeneration programme threw out an unsolicited approach, which infuriated campaigners, from mobile phone operator O2 to put a 22-metre high mast near Ivy Road in Bowthorpe last autumn.
David Ralph, Nelm executive director, pledged to look into whether to bring forward a blanket ban on masts. And at a meeting of the charity's board on Monday, members will be asked to agree a policy preventing them being put on the Bowthorpe School site, which is owned by Nelm.
In the report, Mr Ralph states: “Bowthorpe School site is being developed as a community park for the benefit of local residents.
“A phone mast would be damaging for visual and environmental reasons and be contrary to the ethos of community-led regeneration of the site.”
He added the policy could be reflected in restrictive covenants in future leases or land sales.
The report adds that contracts have been exchanged for the sale of a two-acre employment site for a care home but explains that the new owners Dencora/Alphacare have given a written assurance they have no intention of putting a mast on the land.
He said: “It is good that they are coming up with a policy, but I am concerned that the covenant on the care home land does not seem to be as watertight as I would have hoped. I would be keen to know whether the contracts on the care home have been exchanged and if so, when that happened.”
Are you fighting to stop a mobile phone mast being built near you? Contact Peter Walsh on
01603 772439 or e-mail peter.walsh@archant.co.uk
Copyright © 2007 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.
http://tinyurl.com/3c7clh
28 February 2007 08:33
A community trust is to decide whether to put a permanent ban on mobile phone companies putting masts on its own land.
The North Earlham Larkman and Marlpit (Nelm) development trust will vote next week on whether to introduce a moratorium on telecommunication development on all the land it owns in the city. The move came after the community regeneration programme threw out an unsolicited approach, which infuriated campaigners, from mobile phone operator O2 to put a 22-metre high mast near Ivy Road in Bowthorpe last autumn.
David Ralph, Nelm executive director, pledged to look into whether to bring forward a blanket ban on masts. And at a meeting of the charity's board on Monday, members will be asked to agree a policy preventing them being put on the Bowthorpe School site, which is owned by Nelm.
In the report, Mr Ralph states: “Bowthorpe School site is being developed as a community park for the benefit of local residents.
“A phone mast would be damaging for visual and environmental reasons and be contrary to the ethos of community-led regeneration of the site.”
He added the policy could be reflected in restrictive covenants in future leases or land sales.
The report adds that contracts have been exchanged for the sale of a two-acre employment site for a care home but explains that the new owners Dencora/Alphacare have given a written assurance they have no intention of putting a mast on the land.
He said: “It is good that they are coming up with a policy, but I am concerned that the covenant on the care home land does not seem to be as watertight as I would have hoped. I would be keen to know whether the contracts on the care home have been exchanged and if so, when that happened.”
Are you fighting to stop a mobile phone mast being built near you? Contact Peter Walsh on
01603 772439 or e-mail peter.walsh@archant.co.uk
Copyright © 2007 Archant Regional. All rights reserved.
http://tinyurl.com/3c7clh
rudkla - 28. Feb, 16:40
