18th April 2006

Introduction
Thank you Mr. Mayor for this opportunity to address the Council today.

As power is progressively removed from Town Halls across the region to the dreaded South West Regional Assembly, it is important that local MPs work closely with councils for the benefit of communities. I hope this will be the first of many opportunities for us to work together for the good of Bournemouth.

Objective
The subject today is mobile phone masts and my objective is to underline the concerns expressed by over 4,000 residents who have signed petitions calling for:

• A more open and transparent process.
• Wider consultation.
• Greater use of the Council website to keep residents informed.
• Assistance in securing new locations for respective masts.

I have had meetings with the relevant mobile phone operators and residents. Real progress has now been made.

To summarize:

Mast on the Holly Tree pub, Wimbourne Road
Hutchison 3G placed this mast (disguised as a flag pole) on the Holly Tree pub without properly consulting local residents. Concerned residents formed themselves into an organised group and following an effective demonstration the operator has now agreed to consider alternative sites.

Mast at Fisherman's Walk, West Southbourne
Planning permission for this mast was REFUSED. But as Vodafone was not informed of the decision in the correct manner they were able to erect the mast anyway.

Local councillors said nothing more could be done but again, following an effective demonstration by residents and a letter campaign, Vodafone have now agreed to consider alternative sites. Vodafone claim they received no guidance from the Town Hall prior to the submission of their application.

Wessex Way slip road, Queen's Park
Planning permission was REFUSED but as the operators (O2) were not informed in the statutory 56 day period the planning decision was void. The mast has now been erected a stone's throw from Park Primary school.

Bizarrely Vodafone have been GRANTED planning permission for another mast in the same area, sited even closer to the school. They have made it clear that they would be happy to share a mast and an artificial tree would be ideal way to achieve this. They were however advised by the Town Hall that a second mast structure would be preferable.

Powers for the Council to act
It is very easy to blame national policy for limiting the influence local councils have as most mast applications come under 'Permitted Development' (bypassing the requirement for the full planning process to be followed). However the revised ODPM Code of Best Practice guidelines emphasises the need for greater public consultation for all mast and antennae development (whether permitted or not).

Health Issues
The Government's policy guidance notes (no.8) Telecommunications states that "the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of the guidelines. However, there can indirect adverse effects on their well-being in some cases" (para 89). It states the possibility of harm cannot be ruled out with confidence and that the gaps in knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach.

Para 97 states that "Health considerations and public concern can in principle be material considerations in determining applications for planning permission and prior approval. Whether such matters are material in a particular case is ultimately a matter for the courts.

It is for the decision maker (usually the local planning authority) to determine what weight to attach to such considerations in any particular case."

Therefore, councillors you do have the power and authority. Please use it.

Turning a challenge into an opportunity
As we all use mobile phones, masts are a necessity. The absence of a local strategy to handle the roll out of the third generation of masts has not only led to friction with residents but has meant the Council is ignoring potential commercial benefits. The rental income from a typical mast can be from £3,000 to £10,000 depending on the location. With around a hundred masts already granted planning permission the Council is forgoing a potential £500,000 a year because council land is not being used.

Use of Council Land
The moratorium on the use of Council land for masts means not a penny from this potential rental income goes to the Town Hall (the Council's policy states that no land within 200 metres of a residential property can be used) - effectively removing any council land from consideration. The Council claims that it does receive around £14,000 a year from a couple of masts on council land but this a far cry from the total commercial benefits potentially available to Bournemouth.

Mobile phone operator Orange said last week that the Council's mast policy would prevent a successful application for a mast on Richmond Gardens car park (council property).

Letting us - not the operators - control the agenda
Blackpool uses its obvious landmark to house a number of the town's mobile phone antennas, as does Portsmouth. If we use our imagination and think creatively, ugly masts could be replaced by flag poles flying the blue flags (possibly illuminated at night) which would become a feature for Bournemouth rather than an eye sore.

Wifi and Wimax - the next generation
If we want to comprehensively take control of this challenge and harness the opportunities opening up to us then we should consider the introduction wifi and wimax; the ability for mobile phones to link into the wireless network, which allows computers to link into the Internet remotely. This is being rolled out for the financial district in the City of London.

Were Bournemouth to go down this line it would not only remove the requirement for large mobile phone masts, it would make our town one of the most attractive places for businesses (particularly in the financial sector) to be based.

Conclusion
At present, it is not the council who is controlling where masts are being erected, but the mobile phone operators. Residents feel disenfranchised from the consultation process and Bournemouth is losing out on thousands of pounds in annual income.

I ask the Council to support the work that local residents have done in seeking to secure alternative sites for the Fisherman's Walk, Wessex Way and Wimbourne Road locations.

I strongly urge the Council to create a more open and transparent consultation process, a more robust approach to dealing with mast applications (taking advantage of new and existing guidelines) and review the policy on the use of council land which effectively outlaws the use of council land.

* The council has made efforts to improve the amount of information available regarding masts (existing and planned) but it has been very difficult to get a full picture - hence the need for more information on the Council's website, rather than archived in the Town Hall.