Conservatives walk away from phone mast battle

6.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Jul 2008

Liberal Democrats in Eastbourne have launched a stinging attack on the Conservatives for refusing to support calls to tighten up planning rules on mobile phone masts. Currently, fewer restrictions govern planning applications for phone masts up to 15 metres in height, often making it difficult for councils to refuse permission for controversial proposals.

Last week Liberal Democrat MP's moved an amendment to the Planning Bill which would have meant applications for phone masts would have required full planning permission and therefore be considered in the same way as applications for new buildings or change of use of existing ones.

But Labour MPs voted against the call and Conservative MPs did not bother voting at all.

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner Stephen Lloyd said: "As we know all too well in Eastbourne and Willingdon, communities can often be powerless to stop inappropriately sited phone masts going ahead because the planning system has fewer restrictions on them than for many other planning applications. I remember stopping the proposed mast at the Tally Ho pub in Old Town a couple of years ago, not by going through the planning process which would have failed but by persuading the pub chain who own the premises that, perhaps, it may not have been in their best commercial interest to ignore the wishes of local residents."

"The Lib Dem amendment would have made the system fairer as currently phone companies have an advantage which is not enjoyed by other individuals and businesses applying for planning permission. I was very disappointed therefore to hear that the Conservatives did not bother to support the change at Westminster. They simply sat on their hands, despite telling everyone at the last general election that they supported the proposed new policy."

Stephen added: "As a result, communities in Eastbourne & Willingdon will continue to find it hard to battle against inappropriate phone masts. A real opportunity for Parliament to actually do something that matters to local people and it was wasted."