Residents opposing plans for a mobile phone mast near their homes in north Oxford have won their battle after demonstrating outside the city council's planning office.
Last month, home owners demonstrated outside the office, in St Ebbe's, after T-Mobile notified the council it planned to put the 30ft mast outside the Five Mile Drive playing fields, in Cutteslowe.
The Summertown Stars football club, which uses the recreation ground for Oxford Mail Boys League games, also protested against the plans.
advertisement
Now the city council has backed residents in their fight to persuade T-Mobile to seek an alternative location.
Alan Glanville, of Five Mile Drive, who helped to co-ordinate the campaign, said: "I'm delighted that the council is going to ask T-Mobile to seek a different location.
‘Not every group takes their fight right to the doors of the planning office’
Campaigner Alan Glanville
"Not every group takes their fight right to the doors of the planning office and I'm sure that made the council sit up and take note.
"T-Mobile appear to have dismissed alternative industrial sites out of hand and they need to go away and look at this more thoroughly. Of course, they could appeal against the council's decision, but we hope that doesn't happen."
On Thursday, at the north area committee, councillors will be told that officers are refusing T-Mobile's application for prior approval for the 9.7m monopole on a number of grounds.
According to council officers, the mast is considered to be "unacceptable and inappropriate" for the tree-lined residential street.
They added that insufficient consideration has been given to alternative sites, and that "public health concerns" should be considered.
Jean Fooks, North Oxford city councillor, said: "There was a great deal of concern about this application from residents and T-Mobile is being advised to find a different site."
No-one from T-Mobile was available for comment, but planning consultant Richard Nash told the council earlier that the mast was needed to improve 3G mobile phone coverage.
Although I applaud these people demonstrating - I wonder how many of them actually use mobile phones? I sometimes think that those demonstrating against mobile masts are slightly hipocritical if they do, indeed use mobile phones, and allow their children to use mobile phones.......
Although I applaud these people demonstrating - I wonder how many of them actually use mobile phones? I sometimes think that those demonstrating against mobile masts are slightly hipocritical if they do, indeed use mobile phones, and allow their children to use mobile phones.......
Typical NIMBYS from North Oxford. It's alright for them to use mobile phones but as long as the masts are put somewhere else. Anyone who objects to these masts the phone companies should put a block on their phones in that area. They would soon change their tune.
Typical NIMBYS from North Oxford. It's alright for them to use mobile phones but as long as the masts are put somewhere else. Anyone who objects to these masts the phone companies should put a block on their phones in that area. They would soon change their tune.
[quote][bold]Phil Gale[/bold] wrote:
More victories for the luddites. We all want to be safe, but why can't decisions be taken based on science and evidence, rather than fear?[/quote] What is the evidence? Those working for telecom companies state the emissions are safe while other scientists say they are not. What we should be asking is what independent real long term studies have been performed? Is there enough data to allow an accurate conclusion?
For many, many years doctors (in ignorance) used to prescribe tobacco, alcohol, etc. to patients. Medical research took decades if not centuries to realise these are not not healthy options.
Phil Gale wrote:
More victories for the luddites. We all want to be safe, but why can't decisions be taken based on science and evidence, rather than fear?
What is the evidence? Those working for telecom companies state the emissions are safe while other scientists say they are not. What we should be asking is what independent real long term studies have been performed? Is there enough data to allow an accurate conclusion?
For many, many years doctors (in ignorance) used to prescribe tobacco, alcohol, etc. to patients. Medical research took decades if not centuries to realise these are not not healthy options.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
