Mast bill clears first hurdle

The masts relay data and voice communications

A loophole in the law is allowing large numbers of phone masts to be built without local people being consulted, according to a Liberal Democrat MP.

Five thousand masts are in the pipeline for land owned by Network Rail, but Patsy Calton says none of them needs planning permission.

Now the Cheadle MP hopes ministers will back her Telecommunications Masts (Railways) Bill which will force Network Rail to seek full planning permission before putting up masts over 15 metres high.

Ms Calton claims a mast put up in an inappropriate place could be a "towering monstrosity", impairing views and devaluing homes.

National Parks

"A failure to require full planning permission means Network Rail can site masts of any height anywhere they like, with consequent loss of public confidence and outrage when inappropriate siting leads to loss of visual amenity and loss in value of homes," she told the House of Commons.

Network Rail had plans to erect up to 5,000 masts, up to 33 metres high, in National Parks and open countryside across Britain, she warned.

Her bill will "enable proper democratic scrutiny and give time for local people to engage in the process", she said.

Calton: Masts could devalue homes

The masts, which relay data and voice communications, form part of a new signalling system which aims to increase rail safety.

While the masts were vital to work upgrading the rail network, the current consultation process was inadequate, Ms Carlton argued.

"The public deserve better than this and, at the very least, should be enabled to see that their local elected representatives and the local planning authority can protect their amenity in the same way as is expected with all other telecommunications companies."

The bill, which gained an unopposed first reading in the Commons, has little chance of becoming law due to a lack of parliamentary time.