Mast Protesters on the March Again

5.12.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st Feb 2005

The more controversial masts are, again, provoking concern amongst residents. The Ashley Road mast in Hampton, Twickenham has led to the formation of a residents' action group and a public meeting is planned at Hampton Junior School on 2 March (contact Cassandra Wilcox 8979 6367).

Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham who is supporting the residents said: "this is a mast which should never have got through in the first place: band outside a local primary school and a conspicuously ugly piece of street furniture. Since the council has already given planning permission, it is difficult for concerned parents and other residents now to rectify the position retrospectively; but it is worth trying and I am meeting the operators in parliament this week to discuss the possibilities moving masts.

A new proposal for an Orange mast at the corner of Upper Teddington Road and Normansfield Avenue in Hampton Wick also worries residents. Vincent Cable who is to receive a petition from residents and parents of children at the nearby infant school said that: "we can expect a large number of new masts. The companies are trying to get as many up as possible in order to plug the holes in their network and to get permission before pressures grow for tighter planning rules on masts. Under existing rules it is difficult to stop masts on any other than purely planning considerations; but residents should keep up the pressure on the council and the government".