Press Release

23^rd July 2001

One2One’s "Undue Haste" Breaches Own Rules - McNeil

MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has written to Harris Jones III, Managing Director of One2One, asking why the mobile phone giant has broken its own guidelines in the siting of the mobile phone mast at McInroy’s Point in Gourock.

"The mast was installed, with no consultation and minimal prior notification, on 17^th July - just six days before the tighter controls on the siting of masts came into force," Mr McNeil told Mr Jones.

He continued:

"I note from a Federation of the Electronics Industry Press Notice of 16^th March 2001, that mobile phone operators have pledged to improve consultation with local communities. As no such consultation took place in this case, it appears that One2One is in breach of its own guidelines."

Mr McNeil later told the Telegraph:

"The lack of control over the number and positioning of mobile phone masts has been a cause for concern in many communities for a number of years. That is why the Scottish Parliament has brought in tough new rules to tighten up the procedure.

"From today, all new ground based masts will need planning permission and masts on buildings currently out with planning control will be greatly restricted. It is a matter of regret that an employer such as One2One, with whom we enjoy a good relationship, has acted with such undue haste to beat this deadline."

ENDS

Notes:

• Under the old arrangements, only ground-based masts over 15 metres in height required planning permission. From today, all ground-based masts will require planning permission.
• As regards masts on buildings, under the old arrangements, masts under 10 meters on a building over 30 metres high did not require planning permission. Neither was planning permission required for masts under 8 metres high on a building between 15 and 30 metres high, nor masts under 6 metres high on a building 15 metres high which did not include a dwelling.
• There was no limit to the number of masts allowed on a building.
• From today, only 8 antennas on buildings over 15 metres high will be a permitted development and no mast must be more that 4 metres high. On buildings under 15 metres high, only 4 antennas up to 0.9 metres, or 8 antennas up to 0.5 metres will be permitted developments.

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