KRAMER MEETS MOBILE PHONE OPERATORS TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL CONCERNS

9.04.00am GMT Mon 20th Mar 2006

Mobile phone operators have been told that communities need early warning of their plans for the siting of new masts.

Susan Kramer MP thinks that the present system means that local residents are often taken by surprise when they hear about proposals.

"I think these plans should be shared much earlier, she said. All the companies have annual plans with details of their preferred sites but residents do not get an early warning about these intentions.

"The bottom line is that masts should never be proposed near sites such as schools.

"At the moment the companies use commissioning agents who get paid by results for finding new sites.

"As long as such a system exists it is going to undermine cooperation and relationships between the companies and local communities.

"There must be a better way of planning and sharing information."