Packed public meeting rejects phone mast proposal

It was standing room only at the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath on Monday evening, as residents unanimously opposed Vodafone’s application to erect a 12m high 3G mast on the Badminton Road near the junction with Woodside Road.

Around 85 people turned out to voice their opposition to the plans and add their signatures to the 500+ already collected for a petition by residents. Some raised their health fears, while others questioned the need for the new mast and criticised the visual impact it would have in the village. To date there are approximately 140 objections registered on the South Gloucestershire Council website, with more expected.

Neither Vodafone nor their agents attended the meeting. Instead they are holding a drop-in session between 2pm and 7pm on Wednesday 9th January, also at the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath.

Local Councillor Claire Young, who organised and chaired the meeting, said, “I am backing residents in opposing the proposals. The people of Coalpit Heath have sent a clear message to Vodafone that this application is completely unacceptable. It is not too late for them to withdraw this application and find a more suitable site.”

She added, “I urge concerned residents to attend the drop-in session on Wednesday and to make objections via the Council website or in writing to the Council Offices at Thornbury before the deadline on Thursday.”

The meeting also called on South Gloucestershire Council to take a co-ordinated approach to mobile phone mast applications.

The story has been taken up by the Bristol Evening Post.

Don't forget

• Phone mast public meeting, 7.15pm tonight (7th) in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath


• Safer Stronger Community Group, 7.30pm tomorrow (8th) at the Manor School, Coalpit Heath


• Phone mast drop-in session run by Vodafone and their agents, 2pm-7pm Wednesday (9th) in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath

Thanks to all those who helped deliver flyers for the two phone mast meetings over the weekend.

Phone mast - two chances to have your say

Coalpit Heath residents will have two opportunities next week to voice their concerns about plans for a 3G phone mast in the village.

Claire Young has arranged a public meeting starting at 7.15pm on Monday 7th January in the Newman Room, Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. This will give people a chance to raise concerns and sign a petition started by local residents.

Vodafone and their agents were unable to provide suitably qualified representatives for this meeting, but instead have agreed to hold a drop-in session from 2pm-7pm on Wednesday 9th January in the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. Mark Walters of Needham Haddrell, Vodafone’s agents and Dr. Rob Matthews, the EMF Advisory Unit Manager for Vodafone, will be available to answer queries and discuss alternative sites.

Don’t forget... you can view the application online and make comments by clicking on the "Comment on application" link.

Public meeting latest

Vodafone's agents have withdrawn from Monday's meeting, saying that it was impossible to find someone from Vodafone with sufficient experience to attend at short notice. They have offered to set-up and run a drop-in session later in the week or the following week so that residents can view the proposals, ask questions, suggest alternative sites and voice concerns.

Claire Young will be going ahead with Monday's meeting, so she can hear residents views to help her represent them better. Residents will also be able to sign the petition if they have not already done so.

Phone mast - your chance to ask questions

Claire Young will be chairing a public meeting at 7.15pm on Monday 7th January in the Newman Room at the Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath. Mark Walters of Needham Haddrell, Vodafone's agents, has said he will be happy to be there to answer residents' queries and listen to their concerns.

Phone mast - time ticking by

If you wish your views to be taken into account when the phone mast application is determined, you only have another 9 days in which to make comments. Today Claire Young was out delivering letters to more households in the area explaining how they can make comments.

It might be useful to explain how we got to this point. The Government encourages mobile phone operators to carry out informal consultations before making a formal planning application. There are no laws governing how this is done and the Council's planning department is not involved at this stage. For this proposal, Claire asked Vodafone's agents to contact local residents and they agreed to delay making a formal application while they did this.

Unfortunately Vodafone's agents used the wrong addresses for around half those they tried to contact and then pressed ahead with the formal planning application.

Once a planning application has been registered, it has to go through the formal planning process, which is covered by legislation. There are time limits, for example, so with the application having been submitted just before Christmas the deadline for comments is 10th January. There are also rules about who the Council's planners should inform about the application. As far as Claire is aware, everyone who should have been notified by the Council has been and, unlike Vodafone's agents, they have used the correct addresses. However if anyone is concerned, please do contact Claire.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from your local Focus Team.