Fight to close mast loophole

23 June 2006

A COMMUNITY is fighting to uproot a six-month-old mobile phone aerial erected on Green Belt land without planning permission.

T Mobile took advantage of a planning loophole which allows phone companies to erect temporary aerials without planning permission in areas with little coverage.

Six months ago it built a 24-metre mast at the Cardrome site in Upper Rainham Road, South Hornchurch.

In May Havering Council told T Mobile to remove the aerial but instead the company has applied to retain the temporary aerial for two years and to add a second, 15-metre, mast at the site.

Cllr Georgina Galpin (Con, Hylands) last week she delivered around 250 leaflets to residents encouraging them to object to T Mobile's application.

She said: "Telecom-munications companies are really devious, they have no concern or thought for the local residents."

Read more in this week's Recorder.