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Whitstable residents' group fights phone mast plan
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A pressure group determined to block the construction of a 17.3 metre high mobile phone mast in Whitstable will meet planners at a site meeting tomorrow.

Due to government regulations which state that decisions on masts must be made within 56 days, a final decision must be made at the meeting which will determine whether the mast is built or not.

Campaigners are concerned that the Vodaphone mast, which is proposed to be installed on land off Molehill Road in Chestfield, could pose a health risk to those living nearby, and argue Vodaphone has not followed best practice by failing to consult residents in nearby streets.

In a letter to Canterbury council a spokesman for Chestfield Parish Council said: “The applicant has not, to the Parish Council’s knowledge, consulted the residents of Birkdale Drive, Carnoustie Close or Molehill Road on the revised application, and from the large number of objections being submitted it is clear that there is a perceived fear of the effect of this monopole so near to residential property. 

“This Council therefore feel the spirit of the Code of Practice has not been followed.”

More than 120 people have now written to the council protesting about the mast.

Ian Elliott, of Woodvale Avenue, said: “We have not been consulted. My daughter lives about 100 yards up the road, and the first she heard about it was a note pushed through the door by a local resident.

“The Stewart report into health concerns over mobile phone masts was written in May 2000. It is woefully outdated, and even that recommended caution, but the government refuses to acknowledge there might be health risks.

But Canterbury council has defended its planning process, arguing thorough consultation has been carried out.

A spokesman said: "More than 50 people, including residents living nearby, those who wrote to the council on a previous application for this site and Chestfield Parish Council, have been notified about this planning application. We are more than satisfied that the consultation has been very thorough.

"While noting the concerns about health risks, the government's planning policy guidance clearly states that the planning system is not the place for determining health safeguards and that it is government's responsibility to decide what measures are necessary to protect public health."


POSTED: 17/12/2008 14:00:00

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