Lib Dems Demand End to Mobile Phone Masts on Council Land and Schools

3.16.00pm GMT Sun 30th Nov 2003

Questioning by Liberal Democrat councillors at Thursday night's council meeting has revealed that there are 15 mobile phone masts or aerials sited on council property.

In light of the information, the Lib Dems are calling for an end to the siting of telecommunications masts or equipment on sites owned by the council.

Questioning at the full council meeting by Lib Dem City Council Group Leader Paul Elgood revealed that there are 15 mobile phone masts, aerials or boosters on council owned buildings or land and the list includes residential blocks, schools and a nursery. One school site is in the process of being decommissioned.

The Lib Dems want the council, as landlord, to stop any further masts or aerials to be sited on its buildings or land and that existing ones be decommissioned as soon as possible or at the end of their contracts.

Lib Dem Group Leader, Councillor Paul Elgood said:

"The list is longer than we expected and includes residential blocks and even a booster aerial at a Nursery School. In the light of renewed health concerns we do not believe that this is acceptable"

"We want the council to review its policy on allowing the siting of telecommunications equipment on public land. It is not for the council to provide such facilities to mobile phone companies and many of these sites are close to homes or education buildings."

"Residents will be surprised to learn the extensiveness of the list. No school or nursery should have such equipment even close to it, let alone on its buildings."

"I have always strongly opposed mobile phone masts on residential blocks because the residents within them have no choice but to live in the near vicinity of a mast. Now I find out that at least four council run residential blocks in the city have masts on top."

"We want to see these masts removed as early as possible, and that as a policy the council does not allow further masts on its land or buildings."