KRAMER CALLS FOR TOUGHER RULES ON PHONE MASTS

4.04.10pm GMT Tue 7th Mar 2006

Residents often find out too late about phone mast proposals and the regulations need to be a lot tougher to give them an early warning system.

Local MP Susan Kramer has spoken out on the issue in a Commons debate on the issue.

She told MPs about the experiences in Kew where residents had to take direct action including planting trees on a proposed site to draw attention to their protest.

Susan Kramer said:

"Too often local residents find out about these proposals when it feels too late to do anything about it.

"Often the phone companies are prepared to look at alternative sites but this relies on communities getting an early warning of their intentions.

"We need tougher rules requiring planning permission for all masts and prohibiting masts near schools and nurseries."