Local People Ignored Over Mobile Phone Mast

9.22.34am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd Aug 2006

Withington Lib Dem MP John Leech has slammed Orange for ignoring the views of local people on the position of a new mobile phone mast on the corner of Nell Lane and Burton Road, West Didsbury.

Local Lib Dem councillors and the Withington MP worked closely with local residents to oppose the placing of the Mobile Mast next to a residential area, and were backed by a planning decision from the Council. As a result of the mast getting the go-ahead a large tree will now have to be moved, and may die.

Despite promising to look for alternative sites, Orange appealed against the rejection to the Planning Inspectorate, which overturned the local decision.

John Leech MP said:

"I am very disappointed that Orange has chosen not to listen to the views of local people on the sitting of this mobile mast. I asked them to seriously consider alternative locations which were away from Withington Community Hospital, residential property and the conservation area."

Councillor Neil Trafford added:

"People are angry that the local decision to stop this mast has been overturned. Under Labour the Planning Inspectorate is becoming ever more remote from the concerns of the people affected by the decisions they make. Liberal Democrats are fighting for planning decisions to be brought closer to local people, as they are best placed to judge whether applications should be given the go-ahead."

End