MP joins fight against latest phone mast
THE battle to stop a second phone mast being built in Newmarket has been backed by West Suffolk MP Richard Spring,
Mr Spring met representatives from telecommunications giant Vodafone on Tuesday to voice concerns from Exning Road residents about plans to put up a 40ft mast close to their homes.
Mr Spring said every attempt should be made to keep it off the street but added he was willing to look at other sites for a phone mast in the town with a technician from the company.
"I have spoken to many constituents who are very concerned about the prospect of this second mobile phone mast," said Mr Spring.
"I will continue to do my utmost to ensure that the voice of local people, who this directly impacts upon, is heard."
He added: "There is a very clear problem with the local community (regarding the mast). Vodafone must be sensitive to this.
"Unfortunately, there is a limit to what councils can do. The way legislation is formed, it means that these companies nearly always win. It is very frustrating."
Vodafones claim the mast would fill a gap in the 3G (third generation) coverage in the town, despite already having two masts in the area – one near Exning and the other near the Newmarket Town Ground.
Newmarket Town Council's planning authority has already voted to object to the mast, which would be taller than nearby houses and lampposts, and would have an equipment cabinet sited next to it.
Earlier this year, a mistake by Forest Heath Council led to a mast run by network operators O2 being sited on land near Newmarket College.
Forest Heath has since been in negotiation with O2 over the possibility of moving the mast but the company claimed it would need two masts to replace it at a cost of 150,000 each.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Newmarket
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
