Mobile phone masts..

Admiral Huddy · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:29

Most of us possess a mobile phone nowdays but at what cost to the environment? Mobile phone masts are appearing all over the place including in some lovely rural areas.

I live near a common and farmland. Although not far from Chelmsford town centre, it's very popular for hikers, bikers and pik-niks.. yet they have built a damn mobile phone mast right in the middle of the common. My friends house also has one right out side his house.

I'm puzzled how they get planning permission for these things as the the local council are normally quite tight on building planning permission.

What do you think?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/3_investigates/mobile_phone_masts.shtml

Visage · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:32

DOnt local authorities get quite a bit of cash for granting permission?

Dolph · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:38

The reason for the proliferation of masts is quite simple, people want mobile phone signal...

Yes, there are a lot of nimby's about them, but they are starting to be countered by people writing in support of the masts because they believe it benefits them.

No masts = No phone signal....

Slinwagh · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:40

Dolph said:
The reason for the proliferation of masts is quite simple, people want mobile phone signal...

There speaks the voice of reason !!

IIRC if the mast is below a certain planning permission isn't as strict or maybe not required at all.

Slinwagh · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:40

Visage said:
DOnt local authorities get quite a bit of cash for granting permission?

I would guess farmers get a fee for allowing them in there fields as do the council.

Noxis · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:44

Heheheh you said "Chelmsford" ...

... oops sorry back on topic.

They are attempting to build a 3G mast right on top of our flats, which needless to say has us a little worried. We have discovered that they dont require planning permission from the local council they just have to inform them. They only permission of the land owners.

Unfortuntely we are lease hold so the chances are a few £k is bunged to the owners which is not put towards the upkeep of our flats and we have to suffer and lose some value of my flat :mad:

Admiral Huddy · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:49

Noxis said:
Heheheh you said "Chelmsford" ...

... oops sorry back on topic.

anyway,

I agree with what Dolph said below, we all want the benefit of better signals but should this really be at the cost of masts appearing everywhere?

I'm also sure that farmers or land owners alike profit from using their land to host the masts.

ArmyofHarmony · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:53

That's the price off moving forward in technology, I embrace it!

Dolph · 20 Sep 2006 at 09:58

Admiral Huddy said:
I agree with what Dolph said below, we all want the benefit of better signals but should this really be at the cost of masts appearing everywhere?

Depends. There are a few things that can be done (disguised masts and so on) to improve the look of them. The problem with wanting to build fewer masts is that you have to increase the amount of power they use in order to increase their range, which is something else many people object to. (Although there is no evidence to support or even suggest mobile phones or masts can cause a problem, if there is such an issue, several low power masts would be better than one high powered one, certainly for those living close to the mast in question)

3g masts, by the nature of the way they work, are demand reflective in their consumption and output as well, at quiet periods they can lower their output (and power consumption) and pick it back up when needed, which is generally an all around good thing (and much better than the old 2g system)

I'm also sure that farmers or land owners alike profit from using their land to host the masts.

They certainly do, and some farmers these days use mobile masts (or wind turbines) to provide a good income stream to ensure the farm remains financially viable, which to me, doesn't sound like a bad thing.

iBankAllDay · 20 Sep 2006 at 10:18

Admiral Huddy said:
I agree with what Dolph said below, we all want the benefit of better signals but should this really be at the cost of masts appearing everywhere?

I'm also sure that farmers or land owners alike profit from using their land to host the masts.

The problem with mobile phone masts in terms of planning permission, as other have said, is that they generally do not require it. Often they fall under the category of 'minor communications masts' and are therefore classed as 'permitted development'. The local authority can consult with the operator to encourage particular sites to be chosen and provide and insist on design guidance. Refusal can usually only be enforced by a local authority if the masts installation clearly affects greater environmental and local/structure plan aims.

There is more information on your local council website Huddy:

Chelmsford Borough Council - Planning. There are also contact details there to raise concerns or ask questions about this issue in your local area.

Much of the guidance and policy is drawn from central governments Planning Policy Guidance 8 - Telecommunications.

You can also find here; Ofcom: Sitefinder, locations of mobile phone base stations in any part of the UK.

Gilly · 20 Sep 2006 at 10:21

There's been one built in our local park on top of a cliff that can be seen throughout the area.

Perfect place for it and I want mobile signal wherever I am. It would be rather hypocritical of me to want that without mobile masts

The_KiD · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:01

When I was in South Africa, it was pointed out to me that they hide the telephone masts in fake trees, like this but more realistic:

MookJong · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:04

I was just about to say, why don't they paint them green and stick a few leaves on them.

Same with those white wind turbines, should make them green so they blend in a bit better.

Visage · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:06

The_KiD said:
When I was in South Africa, it was pointed out to me that they hide the telephone masts in fake trees, like this but more realistic:

Trees grow horizontally in South Africa? Must be the funny mavity they have there....

Visage · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:07

MookJong said:
I was just about to say, why don't they paint them green and stick a few leaves on them.

Same with those white wind turbines, should make them green so they blend in a bit better.

I suspect light aircraft pilots wouldnt be so keen.....

Dolph · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:09

The_KiD said:
When I was in South Africa, it was pointed out to me that they hide the telephone masts in fake trees, like this but more realistic:

They do that in this country too.

And not just as trees

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2000/dot_life/2261039.stm

But then they get accused of other things instead (like deception) by the nimby's....

Noxis · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:11

The_KiD said:
When I was in South Africa, it was pointed out to me that they hide the telephone masts in fake trees, like this but more realistic:

They do that here :confused:

Anyone who has been to Stafford Uni (staff campus) will have seen the Orange mast there that looks like a tree.

(no one else heard of a Cheesy Chelm? rofl.... Then again I laughed when our train went through Milford the other day

)

OllyM · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:14

I really don't see why it's a problem, in fact, I wish they'd put a mobile mast up near my house - the signal is generally rubbish on all networks

Efour · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:16

MookJong said:
I was just about to say, why don't they paint them green and stick a few leaves on them.

Same with those white wind turbines, should make them green so they blend in a bit better.

Id rather have 1000 wind turbines than 1 mobile mast.

My local "cathloic" junior school recently had a massive protest about a mobile fun mast that was going up ontop of an office building next door to it.

I know its cliche to talk about the health risks of these things but surely Its so completely un natural its got to be damaging us somehow..

Gilly · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:18

Noxis said:
(no one else heard of a Cheesy Chelm? rofl.... Then again I laughed when our train went through Milford the other day )

A what? Milford?

You're weird.