news story

14th September 2006

MP & Councillors Meet O2 Over Controversial Mast

Steve Webb MP, Cllr Kay Crowe & Steven
Bartholomew, Head of Public Affairs for O2

Public concern over a controversial mobile phone mast at Rodford Way, Yate has led to a meeting at the site between local MP Steve Webb, councillors Kay Crowe & John Davis and representatives of the company. The mast contains six mobile phone aerials, serving both traditional '2G' phones and providing the more up-to-date '3G' services. An original application for a mast was opposed by South Gloucestershire councillors but the company won on appeal.

At the meeting, Cllr Kay Crowe explained that residents were particularly concerned about both the size and appearance of the mast. In response, the company said that they would be prepared to re-paint the mast to a colour that would blend in better with the local surroundings, providing that local residents could agree on a colour. The company also said that it would investigate whether there was any possibility that a slightly smaller or thinner mast design could be used, although they could not offer any guarantees.

Speaking after the meeting, local MP Steve Webb said:

"I am grateful to O2 for coming to meet me and local councillors and to see for themselves what an eyesore the mast is. Whilst none of the proposed solutions is perfect, it may well be that a different colour would make the mast stand out less. I hope that the company will also look hard at whether a different design could be used that would make the mast less obtrusive. I also believe that a review is needed in Parliament of the way that approval for masts is given."

Cllr Kay Crowe said that residents were unhappy that planners seemed to have so little power to prevent masts from being put up without the agreement of local people. Cllr John Davis is now preparing mock-ups of how the mast would look in different colours and Dodington Parish council will be co-ordinating a consultation with residents.