Worsthorne Residents Against Mast Siting

[Mitch]

Vodaphone have been continually trying to errect a telecommunications mast behind the library on Bouldsworth Road in the Pike Hill area, despite strong resistence from residents and the Parish Council in this area. Appeals by Vodaphone have been refused, but Vodaphone just keeps on putting in another application.

Residents are not happy about this Mast siting, and indeed other issues in the Worsthorne area, as apparently there was an uproar, resulting in a councillor/the chair walking out of a public meeting one evening this week.

Worsthorne Parish Council has a record of campaigning, and was active in the campaign to stop the closure of Gannow Baths.

They certainly confronted councillors at a meeting this week! ;D

[michele cryer]

Hey! Well done Worsthorne!!! Hope they win this campaign!!

[Mitch]

Just heard, Worsthorne residents have now got two telecommunication masts to fight. As well as the Hutchinson one, Vodaphone have just put in a planning application for another 3G mast.

[guest]

get the councillors names on a campaign leaflet then post it to everyone in the Worsthorne area. Put a public meeting date on the leaflet.

Get a copy of the planning register for the proposal, study it and find any discrepencies that may get the application throw out.

look at the discounted options in the planning register.
Never let the Council (planning dept) get away with accepting the operator's cell search area and discounted alternative site list in the register.

IMPORTANT:Ensure the Council use an external telecomms consultant to verify the demand stated by the operator.

Grab a map of the area and identify all schools, nurseries, old folks homes, libraries, places where events are likely to cater for children such as weddings or christenings etc..

after negotiating the above, hold a meeting with residents (invite the media) and recommend an alternative site away from residents and school areas.
Get councillors to forward new proposed site to operator and council making sure the cell search area fits in with the nearest cell/mast, if it doesn't, question the demand and get the operator to prove a new service is needed and instead to use an existing structure/mast.

Phone masts restrict future development.
It's a well know fact that structures such as telecoms masts inhibit and severely restrict any further building work in its nearest vicinity. A mast restricts what can go where in relation to the mast in case any new development impedes the signal from the tower/mast.

The council should never consider a mast on its own merits, the rest of the network needs to be taken into acount, otherwise, the operators are dictating the future landscape and townscape since all development around a mast is severely limited, and according to the telecommunications act, any new proposed structure would interfere with the signal and thus be denying the public access to the telecoms network. Thats proof enough to get the masts sited at least near a motorway or in a field (on a pylon for eg.).

If ya need any more info email:

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